,Biosc 1000 Spring 2025 1/9/2025
Lesson 1 - Molecular Interactions
Learning Objectives
You should be able to:
• Know that biological molecules are made up of a small number of possible elements
• Recognize common functional groups in biological molecules
• Differentiate between covalent bonds and noncovalent interactions.
• Describe the characteristics of common weak, noncovalent interactions in biological
molecules.
• Identify hydrogen bond donors and hydrogen bond acceptors.
• Name the four major classes of macromolecules found in living organisms and identify
the constituents of those that are polymeric
Textbook Reference
Chapter 1, Section 2 (pp. 8-15) and Section 3 (pp. 24-26)
Chapter 2, Section 2 (pp. 61-67)
Vocabulary
• element
• atom
• molecule
• compound
• valence electron
• covalent bond
• ionic bond
• hydrophilic
• hydrophobic
• electronegativity
• polar covalent bond
• functional groups
Lecture Slides (begin next page)
This material is for the use of Dr. Zapanta's Spring 2025 Biosc 1000 students only and cannot be distributed
electronically, in print, or posted on any electronic forum. Doing so is a breach of academic integrity and will be
prosecuted as such.
©2025 Laura S. Zapanta, Ph.D. 1
,Biosc 1000 Spring 2025 1/9/2025
Molecular Interactions
Organization in living systems displays a
structural hierarchy.
©2025 Laura S. Zapanta, Ph.D. 2
, Biosc 1000 Spring 2025 1/9/2025
Biochemistry is the study of living things at
biodum
the molecular level.
=
molecular
living things
basis of
Four major elements make up ~90% of living >
matter.
j
f
S
©2025 Laura S. Zapanta, Ph.D. 3
Lesson 1 - Molecular Interactions
Learning Objectives
You should be able to:
• Know that biological molecules are made up of a small number of possible elements
• Recognize common functional groups in biological molecules
• Differentiate between covalent bonds and noncovalent interactions.
• Describe the characteristics of common weak, noncovalent interactions in biological
molecules.
• Identify hydrogen bond donors and hydrogen bond acceptors.
• Name the four major classes of macromolecules found in living organisms and identify
the constituents of those that are polymeric
Textbook Reference
Chapter 1, Section 2 (pp. 8-15) and Section 3 (pp. 24-26)
Chapter 2, Section 2 (pp. 61-67)
Vocabulary
• element
• atom
• molecule
• compound
• valence electron
• covalent bond
• ionic bond
• hydrophilic
• hydrophobic
• electronegativity
• polar covalent bond
• functional groups
Lecture Slides (begin next page)
This material is for the use of Dr. Zapanta's Spring 2025 Biosc 1000 students only and cannot be distributed
electronically, in print, or posted on any electronic forum. Doing so is a breach of academic integrity and will be
prosecuted as such.
©2025 Laura S. Zapanta, Ph.D. 1
,Biosc 1000 Spring 2025 1/9/2025
Molecular Interactions
Organization in living systems displays a
structural hierarchy.
©2025 Laura S. Zapanta, Ph.D. 2
, Biosc 1000 Spring 2025 1/9/2025
Biochemistry is the study of living things at
biodum
the molecular level.
=
molecular
living things
basis of
Four major elements make up ~90% of living >
matter.
j
f
S
©2025 Laura S. Zapanta, Ph.D. 3
