The Building

Blocks of Life
Chapter 6
Section4

S a b rin a S tick
Topics of The Building blocks
of Life
Organic chemistry
Macromolecules
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins
Nucleic Acids

Organic Chemistry
Organic chemistry is an entire branch of
chemistry on the study of organic
compounds containing Carbon.
Organisms are made up of carbon based
molecules.
Life on earth is considered carbon based.
Carbon has four electrons on its outer most energy
level (as shown)
Macromolecules
Macromolecules are large molecules that
are formed by joining smaller organic
molecules together.
Most cells store small carbon compounds that
serve as building blocks for large molecules.
These large molecules are called polymers.
Polymers are molecules made from repeating
units of identical or nearly identical
compounds named monomers that are linked
together by a series of covalent bonds.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are compounds composed of
carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in a ratio of
one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms for
each carbon atom.
Carbohydrates are also known as sugars, starches,
and celluloses, most of which are formed by
green plants and which constitute a major class
of animal foods.
Carbohydrates are one of the main dietary
components. (here are some examples of
carbohydrates)
Lipids
Lipids are molecules made mostly of
carbon and hydrogen that make up the
fats, oils and waxes.
Lipids are composed of fatty acids, glycerol,
and other components.
The primary function of lipids is to store
energy.
Organisms need lipids in order to function
properly.
Lipids are hydrophobic which means thy do not
dissolve in water.
Proteins
Protein is a organic compound made of
amino acids joined by peptide bonds.
Proteins make up about 15% of your total body
mass and are involved in nearly every
function in your body.
For example, your muscles, skin, and hair are
all made of proteins.
Nucleic Acids
Nucleic acids are complex
macromolecules that store and transmit
genetic information.
Nucleic acids are made of smaller repeating
subunits called nucleotides. Nucleotides are
composed of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen,
phosphorus, and hydrogen atoms.
There are two types of nucleic acids found in
living organisms: Deoxyribonucleic acid
(DNA) & Ribonucleic (RNA). In these nucleic
acids the sugar of one nucleotide bonds to
the phosphate of another nucleotide.

The Building Blocks of life
Here are a few video’s that can help with the


understanding of….. Organic chemistry in our

everyday lives.
Video on Macromolecules.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T500B5yTy58&f
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2-FSHTc3U8

Assessment: Multiple choice
Q’s
Carbohydrates , lipids, proteins and nucleic acids are________.
All macromolecules

DNA and RNA are examples of _______.

Nucleic acids

The element carbon is a component of almost all _____________.

Biological molecules

What are polymers?

They are molecules made from repeating units of identical or nearly

identical compounds called monomers that are linked together by

a series of covalent bonds.
What are lipids composed of?

Fatty acids, glycerol, and other components.

1.
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