Biomolecules and Elements

Biomolecules

• Living organisms require biomolecules to survive, which are composed of 13 essential elements.
• The 6 most common elements in biomolecules are carbon (C), hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S).

Organic Compounds

• Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen chemically bond together to form 4 large units of organization: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
• Biomolecules are formed through synthesis, which involves joining small units together to form a long chain, often removing a water molecule (dehydration synthesis).

Carbohydrates

• Carbohydrates contain the elements C, H, and O, with a general formula Cx(H2O)y.
• Carbohydrates are a good energy source for living organisms and are divided into three main classes: monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides.
• Monosaccharides are single sugar units, classified according to the number of carbon atoms (e.g., trioses, tetroses, pentoses, hexoses, and heptoses).

Monosaccharides

• Monosaccharides are the smallest functioning units of carbohydrates, with a general formula (CH2O)n.
• Glucose is a common monosaccharide, a six-carbon sugar used by cells for various purposes, such as energy production, brain function, and synthesis.

Importance of Glucose

• Glucose is important for brain cells, synthesized by green plants, and used as a food by others.
• It is a constant source of energy for cellular activity, stored in the liver or muscles, and forms cellulose, the building block of plant cells.