Distinguish between organic and inorganic compounds: compounds containing carbon that are found in living organisms are regarded as organic (with some exceptions such as CO2); all other compounds are regarded as inorganic
Types of macromolecules:
Amino acids are the building block to make proteins. Proteins make enzymes which catalyse (speed up) chemical reactions. Examples are aklanine, leucine and glycine. Proteins also make up cell parts. Structurally, they look this this (but the R side group group can vary):
Sugars are the building blocks of carbohydrates, the chief energy source for living things. Carbohydrates may be made of one sugar (monosaccharide such as glucose produced in photosynthesis; two sugars or a disaccharide such as sucrose the common "grocery store" sugar; or many sugar units called polysaccharides such as starch or glycogen which both store energy for release later during respiration. The structure of glucose is shown below.
Lipids such as fats and oils are used for long-term energy storage, structural framework of cellular membranes; act as thermal insulation
(example: fat layer for a seal) and make up hormones (messenger molecules).Lip[ids are primarily made of fatty acids which are shown below.
__________________________________________________________________
