Unit 1: Chemistry of Life
Macromolecules
There are four main groups of macromolecules: Nucleic acids, proteins,
carbohydrates, and lipids. These groups are all polymers, and are each made of
their respective monomers. Monomers can be linked or bonded by a covalent bond
forming between the monomers. Dehydration synthesis reactions can also be used
to create macromolecules, and hydrolysis can be used to break down
macromolecules. Six main elements can be found in these macromolecules,
including nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur.
↓Key terms mentioned:
Monomers: single chemical subunits of a molecule with specific chemical
properties that can bond w/ identical molecules to form polymers.
Polymers: macromolecules made of many monomers in a chain
Dehydration Synthesis: creates macromolecules, building covalent bonds by
releasing a water molecule (H₂O). This water molecule is formed by the removal of
(-OH) hydroxyl and a hydrogen (-H). This connection of monomers is also
commonly called polymerization.
Hydrolysis: breaks covalent bonds between monomers by adding water. It is
essentially the inverse of dehydration synthesis. A hydrogen ion (-H) is added to
one monomer, and a hydroxyl is added to the other (-OH).
Exam tip: the six main elements can be remembered by acronym NCHOPS
Monomer to Polymer Table
Monomer Polymer
Monosaccharide Carbohydrate
Amino acid Protein
Nucleotide Nucleic Acids
*Fatty Acid Lipids
, *Lipids don’t have true monomers
Macromolecules Comparison Table
Macromolecule Monomer Function Example
Carbohydrates Monosaccharide Energy/Structure Starch, glycogen,
cellulose
Lipids (no true Long-term energy Triglycerides
monomer)
Proteins Amino acids Structure/Enzymes Enzymes
Nucleic acids Nucleotides Genetic info DNA, RNA
Carbohydrates
Made of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O) w/ a 1:2:1 ratio of C:H:O. The
monomers of carbohydrates are monosaccharides. Carbohydrates have two main
functions; they are valuable sources of energy in both animal and plant cells in the
form of glycogen and starch and they provide structure to cell walls in the form of
cellulose. Polymers of carbohydrates are polysaccharides.
What are monosaccharides?
- Simplest monomers of carbohydrates, serving as important sources of
energy. They can form 5-carbon or 6-carbon rings in water, creating chemical
stability. Most importantly, the formula for these molecules is (CH₂O) *
*n represents the number of carbon atoms
What are polysaccharides?
- They are polymers of carbohydrates, classified as complex sugar. Some
examples of polysaccharides function as structural support in cells, such as
cellulose and chitin.
Macromolecules
There are four main groups of macromolecules: Nucleic acids, proteins,
carbohydrates, and lipids. These groups are all polymers, and are each made of
their respective monomers. Monomers can be linked or bonded by a covalent bond
forming between the monomers. Dehydration synthesis reactions can also be used
to create macromolecules, and hydrolysis can be used to break down
macromolecules. Six main elements can be found in these macromolecules,
including nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur.
↓Key terms mentioned:
Monomers: single chemical subunits of a molecule with specific chemical
properties that can bond w/ identical molecules to form polymers.
Polymers: macromolecules made of many monomers in a chain
Dehydration Synthesis: creates macromolecules, building covalent bonds by
releasing a water molecule (H₂O). This water molecule is formed by the removal of
(-OH) hydroxyl and a hydrogen (-H). This connection of monomers is also
commonly called polymerization.
Hydrolysis: breaks covalent bonds between monomers by adding water. It is
essentially the inverse of dehydration synthesis. A hydrogen ion (-H) is added to
one monomer, and a hydroxyl is added to the other (-OH).
Exam tip: the six main elements can be remembered by acronym NCHOPS
Monomer to Polymer Table
Monomer Polymer
Monosaccharide Carbohydrate
Amino acid Protein
Nucleotide Nucleic Acids
*Fatty Acid Lipids
, *Lipids don’t have true monomers
Macromolecules Comparison Table
Macromolecule Monomer Function Example
Carbohydrates Monosaccharide Energy/Structure Starch, glycogen,
cellulose
Lipids (no true Long-term energy Triglycerides
monomer)
Proteins Amino acids Structure/Enzymes Enzymes
Nucleic acids Nucleotides Genetic info DNA, RNA
Carbohydrates
Made of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O) w/ a 1:2:1 ratio of C:H:O. The
monomers of carbohydrates are monosaccharides. Carbohydrates have two main
functions; they are valuable sources of energy in both animal and plant cells in the
form of glycogen and starch and they provide structure to cell walls in the form of
cellulose. Polymers of carbohydrates are polysaccharides.
What are monosaccharides?
- Simplest monomers of carbohydrates, serving as important sources of
energy. They can form 5-carbon or 6-carbon rings in water, creating chemical
stability. Most importantly, the formula for these molecules is (CH₂O) *
*n represents the number of carbon atoms
What are polysaccharides?
- They are polymers of carbohydrates, classified as complex sugar. Some
examples of polysaccharides function as structural support in cells, such as
cellulose and chitin.
