Organic Compounds and Biomolecules Quiz

Study Notes

Organic Compounds in Living Organisms

Chemical analysis of living tissue (e.g., vegetable, liver) reveals diverse organic compounds.
Grinding tissue in trichloroacetic acid (Cl₃CCOOH) yields two fractions:
- Acid-soluble pool (filtrate): Contains thousands of organic compounds.
- Acid-insoluble fraction (retentate): May also contain organic compounds.

Biomolecules

Biomolecules are the building blocks of living organisms and are classified into primary and secondary metabolites, as well as biomacromolecules.
Primary Metabolites are essential for the organism's normal functioning
Secondary Metabolites are not essential for normal functioning and include products such as alkaloids and antibiotics.
Biomacromolecules are large molecules composed of smaller subunits (monomers).

Proteins

Proteins are biomacromolecules composed of amino acids.
Amino acids have an amino group (-NH₂), a carboxyl group (-COOH), and a variable R-group.
- Glycine, Alanine, and Serine are examples of amino acids.
Properties of proteins are determined by their amino, carboxyl and R-groups
They can be acidic, basic, or neutral, and some are aromatic.
Amino acids are ionizable, changing structure based on pH (e.g., zwitterionic form).

Lipids

Lipids are generally water-insoluble organic compounds.
Fatty acids are composed of a carboxyl group and an R group (e.g., methyl, ethyl, or longer hydrocarbon chains).
- Saturated fatty acids lack double bonds; unsaturated fatty acids contain double bonds. Palmitic acid (16 carbons) and arachidonic acid (20 carbons) are examples.
Glycerol is a trihydroxy propane.
Combining glycerol with fatty acids yields monoglycerides, diglycerides, and triglycerides (fats and oils).
Oils have lower melting points than fats and thus remain liquid.
Phospholipids contain phosphorus and are found in cell membranes (e.g., lecithin).
Some lipids in neural tissue have complex structures.

Nucleic Acids (Partial)

Nucleic acids are biomolecules containing heterocyclic rings.
Nitrogen bases found include adenine, guanine, cytosine, uracil, and thymine.
When attached to a sugar, they form nucleosides. (the text does not specify details regarding further organization)

Description

Test your knowledge on organic compounds in living organisms, including biomolecules and proteins. This quiz covers the chemical analysis of living tissues, the classification of metabolites, and the structure of proteins. Perfect for students studying biology and biochemistry!