BIOMOLECULES Flashcards
are the most essential organic molecules, which are involved in the maintenance and metabolic
processes of living organisms. These non-living molecules are the actual foot-soldiers of the battle of
sustenance of life. They range from small molecules such as primary and secondary metabolites and hormones to large macromolecules like proteins,
nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids.
Biomolecules
13 Principal Elements in the body
• Oxygen (O)
• Sulfur (S)
• Carbon (C)
• Sodium (Na)
• Hydrogen (H)
• Chlorine (Cl)
• Nitrogen (N)
• Magnesium (Mg)
• Calcium (Ca)
• Iron (Fe)
• Phosphorus (P)
• Iodine (I)
• Potassium (K)
IMPORTANCE OF WATER
• The body is mostly water, so all chemical reaction in the body occurs in water
• Covalent bonds are much stronger than ionic bonds in water.
• Water can dissolve inorganic and organic molecules making a solution.
• Water is needed for chemical reactions
Essential molecules obtained from food
(you have to eat them to get them) Metabolites — Molecules made or broken down in the body
Nutrients
(ESSENTIALS MOLECULES)
— Always contain carbon, with hydrogen or sometimes oxygen ad often soluble in water Inorganic —
Electrolytes, minerals and compounds that do not contain carbon with hydrogen.
Organic
— They are essential nutrients
that are required in very small amounts for healthy growth and development.
Vitamins and minerals
• All living things are made up of four classes of large biological molecules (macromolecules): carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
• Carbon is the building block of the four major macromolecules.
• Functional Groups - groups of accessory elements attached to molecules that give them a different structure and thus a different function.
MACROMOLECULES
Macromolecules are polymers, built from monomers. A polymer is a long molecule consisting of many similar
building blocks. (Poly=many). These small building-block molecules or repetitive molecules are called monomers. (mono=one)
- ______ serve as fuel and building
material.
• Carbohydrates include sugars and the
polymers of sugars. Ending with suffix – ose
• The simplest carbohydrates are
monosaccharides, or single sugars.
• Carbohydrate macromolecules are
polysaccharides, polymers composed of
many sugar building blocks.
Carbohydrates
