Biochemistry
The Chemicals of Life
Micronutrients – small, inorganic molecules /atoms
Macromolecules – large, organic molecules, all containing a chain of carbon atoms with attached hydrogen and
oxygen atoms.
There are four groups of macromolecules:
Carbohydrates
Proteins
Lipids
Nucleic acids
All four groups contain Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen while protein and nucleic acids contain nitrogen and sulfur.
Molecule shape is important for:
Molecules reacting together
Recognition
The same molecule in different shapes – isomers
Many macromolecules are polymers and are made up of subunits called monomers.
Within groups the bonds that bind subunits are called:
Glycosidic – links in starch and cellulose
Peptide – links in proteins
Ester – links in lipids
Within all organic molecules, a variety of bonding is possible
Most of the bonding within macromolecules is covalent
When mineral elements join on they do so ionically. Also, hydrogen can behave as an ion so ionic bonding can
occur within certain molecules; especially proteins which are formed when amino acids join together
Hydrogen Bonds
In many molecules, the electrons tend to congregate more at one or two regions of the molecule. This gives that
region of the molecule a relatively negative charge, while the opposite end is more positive.
These molecules are described as being polar
While many polar molecules are close together attractions form between the relative +ve bit of one molecule and
the relatively -ve bit of another.
Individually these electrostatic attractions are quite weak, but collectively large numbers of them can be strong
The Chemicals of Life
Micronutrients – small, inorganic molecules /atoms
Macromolecules – large, organic molecules, all containing a chain of carbon atoms with attached hydrogen and
oxygen atoms.
There are four groups of macromolecules:
Carbohydrates
Proteins
Lipids
Nucleic acids
All four groups contain Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen while protein and nucleic acids contain nitrogen and sulfur.
Molecule shape is important for:
Molecules reacting together
Recognition
The same molecule in different shapes – isomers
Many macromolecules are polymers and are made up of subunits called monomers.
Within groups the bonds that bind subunits are called:
Glycosidic – links in starch and cellulose
Peptide – links in proteins
Ester – links in lipids
Within all organic molecules, a variety of bonding is possible
Most of the bonding within macromolecules is covalent
When mineral elements join on they do so ionically. Also, hydrogen can behave as an ion so ionic bonding can
occur within certain molecules; especially proteins which are formed when amino acids join together
Hydrogen Bonds
In many molecules, the electrons tend to congregate more at one or two regions of the molecule. This gives that
region of the molecule a relatively negative charge, while the opposite end is more positive.
These molecules are described as being polar
While many polar molecules are close together attractions form between the relative +ve bit of one molecule and
the relatively -ve bit of another.
Individually these electrostatic attractions are quite weak, but collectively large numbers of them can be strong
