Interesting Characteristics of Carbon

1
Interesting Characteristics of Carbon

• Living organisms are made up of chemicals based
  mostly on the element carbon.

2
Can bond with 4 other atoms

• Carbon has four electrons in the valence orbital
• Can bond with up to four other atoms (usually H,
  O, N, or another C).

3
Chemical bonds store energy.

• Single bond C-C covalent bond has 83.1 Kcal
  (kilocalories) per mole,
• Double bond CC double covalent bond has 147
  Kcal/mole.
• Chemical bonds are forms of potential energy
• Cells can convert it into another form of energy
  (ATP) that can then be used by the cell.

4
Carbon-Carbon bonds

• Covalently C to C bonds make chains and rings
  possible
• This is the basis for the construction of
  macromolecules
• Macromolecules are constructed from
  monomers/small subunits
• Subunits are bonded by C to C bonds

5
Four Classes Macromolecules

• Polysaccharides (sugars)
• Triglycerides (Lipids)
• Polypeptides (Proteins)
• Nucleic acids (DNA, RNA)
• These classes perform a variety of functions in
  cells.

6
Task

1. Turn to page 28 of your text and copy table 3
   into your notes.
2. Describe condensation and dehydration reactions.
3. Answer questions on worksheet