Organic Chemistry Overview

Study Notes

The word "organic" in chemistry refers to compounds containing carbon, commonly found in living organisms
It is often used in non-scientific contexts to describe food products that are natural, free from preservatives, hormones, and pesticides.

Carbon is located in group four of the periodic table.
Carbon needs four electrons to fill its outer shell, forming four covalent bonds.
Carbon's significance in biological molecules makes their study a distinct field known as organic chemistry.

Dehydration synthesis is the process of joining smaller molecules together by removing water.
Hydrolysis is the process of breaking larger molecules into smaller ones by adding water.
ATP is an energy-carrying molecule.

Carbohydrates are composed of carbon and water.
They serve as readily available energy source.
Simple carbohydrates, also known as sugars, include monosaccharides and disaccharides.
Glucose (C6H12O6) is an example of a monosaccharide.
Complex carbohydrates, also known as starches, are polysaccharides and include foods like breads, pasta, and potatoes.

Saturated fats are filled with hydrogen, with only single bonds between carbon atoms. They are typically solid at room temperature and can potentially contribute to hardened arteries due to their larger size.
Unsaturated fats do not have a maximum amount of hydrogen bonds. They are typically liquid at room temperature and often better for health compared to saturated fats. Examples include vegetable oils.
Cis, trans, and omega-3 are different types of unsaturated fats.

Proteins are essential for building structures within living organisms.
They are long chains of amino acids, typically containing 500 to 2000 amino acids.
There are twenty unique amino acids, similar to letters forming words.
Enzymes are proteins that control processes in the body.

Nucleic acids act as blueprints for life, providing instructions for protein synthesis.
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) and RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) are the two types of nucleic acids.

Nucleic acids are composed of nucleotides.
Each nucleotide comprises a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogen base, which could be A, T (or U), G, or C.

DNA and RNA differ in their sugar, nitrogen base composition, length, and structure.
DNA has deoxyribose sugar, ATGC bases, is longer, and exists as a double helix, remaining in the nucleus.
RNA has ribose sugar, AUGC bases, is shorter, exists as a single strand, and different types can travel within the cell.

Maintaining a healthy weight involves balancing calorie intake and calorie expenditure.
A food item that does not provide satiety can lead to increased food consumption and calorie intake.