Functional groups-where the action is!
In organic chemistry, it is a whole bunch of carbon and hydrogen with some oxygen and nitrogen thrown in. We are going to look at 3 classes of biological molecules that use carbon as the "backbone" element. The diagram below shows the main functional groups for organic chemistry which is the kind of chemistry that includes us, our food, etc. For example, the main functional group in carbohydrates is the alcohol group. In fats and proteins there is the carboxylic acid group. Proteins also contain the amide group to link amino acids together.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. The simplest unit is the monosaccharide glucose. This is the universal energy molecule animals need no matter if you are an amoeba, cockroach, guinea pig, or a human. Plants make glucose from carbon dioxide and sunlight. Monosaccharides can be made into disaccharides, like sucrose, or into polysaccharides like cellulose, starch, glycogen, etc.
Fats
These are major energy sources for all non plants and they are also used for cell membranes, hormones, etc.
