Monomers and Polymers
Attribution: K.R Roshith, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Polymers are large molecules made up of repeated units of smaller molecules called monomers. Think of links on a chain. The monomers are the individual links and the polymer is the entire chain. The process by which monomers bond is called polymerization. Watch the following video:
https://youtu.be/6tSIbSKacXA
How Can Polymers Be Classified?
Additionally, polymers are not just made from oil-based compounds (i.e. plastics), they are also made of living things.
- Examples: Proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids
- Polylactic acid is made by polymerizing lactic acid produced by bacteria
- Some plants can be genetically engineered to produce bioplastics
What Are Hydrocarbons?
When discussing hydrocarbons, there is some key terminology we need to review:
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A hydrocarbon is an organic compound that consists primarily of hydrogen and carbon, and there are four classes of hydrocarbons which are the following:
Many organic compounds contain atoms other than carbon and hydrogen. These groups are called functional groups. Functional Groups are a specific arrangement of atoms in an organic molecule and are very important for determining the reactivity of an organic molecule. There are many functional groups which you can attach to the carbon chain, but you only need to know the following ones:
Watch the following video!
Hydrocarbons have isomers. An isomer is when you have hydrocarbons with the same number of atoms, but a different shape. As you increase the number of carbon atoms in a hydrocarbon, the number of isomers quickly increases due to the greater number of possible arrangements. Next, isomers have different properties. For example, Isomers will have different boiling points because the different shapes of the isomers will create different intermolecular forces between molecules; thus, affecting the boiling point. As carbon chains grow longer there is an increase in the intermolecular forces of attraction between molecules, such as the London Dispersion Forces. These forces hold molecules together, and in order to boil, the molecules must be separated. So, if there are stronger intermolecular forces of attraction between molecules as the number of carbons in a chain increases, the boiling point will also increase.
What Are The Biomolecules?
- Carbohydrates: These are what we think of as sugars and starches (polysaccharides)
- Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for the body
- Even if you eat a bunch of fat and protein, these are turned into carbohydrates by your body, so they can be used by your cells.
- Some types are also used for structure and support, especially in plants
- 3 categories of carbohydrates
- Monosaccharides: These carbohydrates have single ring structures. For example, glucose, galactose, and fructose.
- Disaccharides: Two monosaccharides combine to form a disaccharide. For example, maltose, lactose, and sucrose.
- Polysaccharides: Consists of 3 or more monosaccharides bonds together. For example, cellulose and glycogen.
- Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for the body
- Lipids have many function in the body and more energy is stored in 1 gram of fat than carbohydrates or proteins.
- Includes such things as: fats, oils, and waxes
- Types of fats:
- Triglycerides: Fats and oils that store energy. They can be saturated or unsaturated.
- Phospholipids: They make up the cell membrane, and they have a hydrophilic (water loving) and a hydrophobic (water fearing) part.
- Cholesterol (steroids): Has a role in the structure of the cell membrane and synthesis of hormones.
- Waxes: There are three types:
- Spermaceti which is found in the head cavities of the sperm whale
- Beeswax which is a natural wax produced by honey bees of the genus Apis.
- Carnauba Wax which is a wax of the leaves of the palm Copernicia prunifera.
- Proteins
- Proteins have the following functions:
- Structure
- Enzymes: catalysts that speed up chemical reaction
- Transport: hemoglobin in blood transport gases
- Toxins: many toxins/venom are proteins
- Messages: Some hormones are proteins
- Proteins have the following functions:
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Watch the following video.
- Nucleic Acids
- Nucleotides:
- Consist of 3 parts: a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base
- Nitrogenous Bases
- Adenine (A)
- Guanine (G)
- Thymine (T) - DNA
- Cytosine (C)
- Uracil (U) –RNA
- Nitrogenous Bases
- Consist of 3 parts: a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base
- Two nucleotides join together by a condensation reaction
- Polymer – Nucleic Acid
- 2 types of nucleic acids:
- DNA and RNA: DNA is a double helix, RNA is a single helix molecule.
- Nucleotides:
Watch the following video from 0:00 to 1:54: