The Molecules of Life

• It’s the study of carbon-based molecules
• Cells are mostly water, but the rest is mainly carbon-based molecules
• Carbon plays the leading role, because have the ability to form skeletons of large, complex, and diverse molecules that are necessary for life’s function.
• Inorganic compounds are those that don’t have a carbon skeleton.
• Carbon is a versatile molecule ingredient because can share electrons with other atoms in 4 covalent bonds - 4 directions.
• Carbon is possible to construct an endless diversity of carbon skeletons.
• Molecules with multiple carbon “intersections” can form very elaborate shapes.
• Carbon can also bond with other elements, most commonly hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen.
• The unique properties of an organic compounds depend in its carbon skeleton and on the atoms attached to the skeleton.
• Functional groups are those groups of atoms directly involved in chemical reactions.
• • Each functional group plays a particular role during chemical reactions.
  • Examples of this type of groups are:
  • OH, found in alcohol such as isopropyl rubbing alcohol.
  • COOH, found in all proteins.
• • Other type of funtional groups:
  • Phosphate Group.
  • Sulfhydryl Group.
  • Carbonyl Group.
  • Hydroxyl Group
  • Carboxyl Group.
  • Amino Group.
• Many biological molecules have two or more functional groups.
• Dehydration Reaction means that cell links monomers together to form a polymer through this reaction.
• For each monomer added to a chain, a water molecule (H2O) is formed by release of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom from the reactants.
• Hydrolisis is a process that occurs breakdown a polymer into monomers.
• hydrolysis means water breakage.
• hydro: water
• lysis: break.