I. Carbon
1. 6 electrons- (4 valence) has the ability to bond with 4 other elements
2. Hydrocarbons- (contains only C & H)
3. Asymmetric carbon- attached to 4 different atoms or groups of atoms
II. Isomers - Compounds having the same molecular formula but different structure and properties
1. Structural- differ in covalent arrangement of their atoms and may differ in location of double bonds
2. Geometric- same structure different arrangement
3. Enantiomer/stereoisomer
1. Usually one is biologically active and the other is not
2. Pharmaceuticals- important because often one of the isomer is not as effective or could produce harmful effects (thalidomide)
III. Polymers – Macromolecule of many identical or similar subunits (monomers)
a. Condensation synthesis- process by which links monomers into polymers
1. 1 water molecule is removed for each monomer added (one monomer loses a hydroxyl group and the other loses a hydrogen so that they are then able to bond covalently to each other)
2. Enzymes are needed
3. Energy is expended by both monomers
4. Anabolic – building blocks
5. Also known as a dehydration reaction
b. Hydrolysis – process which separates polymers into monomers
1. 1 water molecule is added (hydrogen attaches to one monomer and the hydroxyl group attaches to the other monomer)
2. Digestion is an example
3. Catabolic
IV. Carbohydrates – Sugars and their polymers (name often ends in –ose)
a. Monosaccharides - one monomer
1. Usually multiples of CH2O
2. Aldose- Sugar with aldehyde
3. Ketose- Sugar with ketone
4. Glucose, fructose, galactose
b. Disaccharides- Double sugar with 2 monomers joined together by a glycosidic linkage (covenant bond)
1. Maltose – 2 Glucose
2. Sucrose - Glucose & Fructose
3. Lactose - Glucose & Galctose
c. Polysaccharides / Oligosaccharides – few sugars joined together
1. Starch in plants
2. Glycogen – vertebrates store this in muscles and