Organic Chemistry
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Organic Chemistry Sites
Protein
Structure and Function. Univ. Wisco.
Carbohydrate
Structure and Function. Texas A&M University.
Lipid
Structure and Function. Texas A&M University.
Nucleic
Acid Structure. Univ. Wisco.
Atoms,
Molecules, Water, pH. Clermont College.
pH
Regulation During Excercise. Washington Univ.
References:
Biology, 5th ed.. Campbell, Reece, and Mitchell . Benjamin/Cummings, Publ. 2001.
Chemistry and The Living Organism. Bloomfield, Molly M. John Wiley & Sons. 1977.
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Kevin C. Hartzog
Organic Molecules
Organic Groups:
As they form organic molecules, elements are commonly arranged in organic groups. There are six common organic groups that for smaller units of organic molecules. These are methyl, hydroxyl, carboxyl, amino, sulfydrl, and phosphate groups. By combing these groups in particular arrangements, common organic molecules are formed.
Naturally Occurring Elements in the Human Body
|
Organic Group |
Formula |
Compounds |
|
Methyl |
—CH3 and —CH2 |
proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, etc. |
|
Hydroxyl |
—OH |
alcohol |
|
Carboxyl |
—COOH and —COO– |
proteins, lipids |
|
Amino |
—NH2 |
proteins, amino acids, nucleic acids |
|
Sulfydrl |
—SH |
some amino acids, Thiols |
|
Phosphate |
—PO4 |
organic phosphates like ATP, DNA, RNA |
Adapted from Cummings et al. Table 4.1, Biology. 2001.
Organic Molecules
There are four basic groups of organic molecules: Proteins, Carbohydrates, Lipids, and Nucleic Acids. These molecules are made by bonding different organic groups to each other in differing orders.
All organic molecules contains methyl groups, and most contain hydroxyl groups. For example, you can describe the basic amino acid, the molecule that makes proteins, as a molecule that contains a methyl group, an amine group, and a carboxyl group, plus one R-group that varies from amino acid to amino acid. Carbohydrates have 3-6 methyl groups, with about the same number of hydroxyl groups, and maybe containing a carboxyl group. Lipids are strings of methyl groups, with one carboxyl group at one end. Nucleic Acids have alternating methyl and amine groups.