Fats and Oils

Study Notes

92 elements occur naturally on Earth, but only six (CHNOPS: Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur) make up 99% of the weight of all living matter.

Carbon is a key element due to its ability to form long chains and rings, making it a crucial component of organic molecules.

Carbohydrates are classified into three types: monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides.
Monosaccharides are single sugars, building blocks of energy, and dissolve in water (e.g., glucose, fructose, ribose).
Disaccharides are two sugars connected together and act as a transport form of sugar in plants.
Polysaccharides are many sugars connected together and serve as energy storage molecules (e.g., starch) and structural molecules (e.g., cellulose).

Lipids are hydrophobic (insoluble in water) and function as energy storage molecules (fats and oils) and structural molecules (waxes, steroids).
Fats and oils are energy storage molecules found in seeds, fruits, and provide insulation.
Saturated fats have no double carbon bonds, while unsaturated fats have one or more double carbon bonds.
Waxes are found on the surface of leaves and in bee's wax.
Steroids are composed of four interconnected hydrocarbon rings and function as hormones and stabilize phospholipid tails in cell membranes.

Nucleic acids are chains of nucleotides and include DNA, RNA, and ATP.
DNA is Deoxyribonucleic Acid, RNA is Ribonucleic Acid, and ATP is Adenosine triphosphate.

Proteins are chains of amino acids and are vital for the continuation of life on Earth.
Proteins catalyze most chemical reactions in the cell, provide structural elements, and help bind cells together into tissues.
They also act as contractile elements, transport vital materials, and protect animals from disease through antibodies and interferon.
Proteins control gene expression and are incredibly diverse in size, shape, and charge.
There are 20 known amino acids in nature that make up proteins.