Organic Molecules

A. Inorganic molecules constitute nonliving matter, but also play important roles in living things.
B. Organic molecules are the molecules of life. They always contain carbon and hydrogen. A carbon atom
has four electrons in the outer shell. The carbon atom shares electrons covalently with as many as four
other atoms, a sin methane (CH4). A carbon atom can share with another carbon atom, and in doing so,
a long hydrocarbon chain can result.
C. Functional groups
a. A functional group is a particular cluster of atoms that always behaves in a certain way. One
functional group of interest is the acidic (carboxyl) group---COOH because it can give up a
hydrogen (H+) and ionize to--- COO-
b. Many molecules of life are macromolecules, that contain many molecules joined together.
c. A monomer is a simple organic molecule that exists individually or can link with other monomers
to form polymer.
D. Cells have a common way of joining monomers to build polymers. During a dehydration reaction, an
OH (hydroxyl group) and an H (hydrogen atom), the equivalent of a water molecule, are removed as the
reaction proceeds. To degrade macromolecules, the cell uses a hydrolysis reaction, in which
components of water are removed.