Macromolecules are large molecules that are composed of smaller units. The four major macromolecules are carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins. Carbon is the primary component of the four macromolecules. Carbon's molecular structure allows it to bond in many different ways and with many different elements. A Monomer is an atom or small molecule that may bind chemically to other monomers to form a Polymer Different monomers make up a polymer. Polymers combine to make a molecule, and molecules combine to make macromolecules.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are molecular compounds made from just three elements: carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, usually in a ratio of 1:2:1. Monosaccharides (like glucose) are relatively small molecules. They …show more content…
The same three elements are involved in the structure of carbohydrates, but the amount of oxygen in the molecule present is much less than in carbohydrates. Lipids are generally not soluble in water. The most common categories of lipids are fats, oils, and waxes. Lipids can be used to store energy. Some lipids are important parts of biological membranes and waterproof coverings. Steroids are also known as lipids as well, steroids such as hormones serve as chemical messengers. Lipids insulate the body of animals and humans from very cold weather. Lipids tend to cover the vital organs of living organisms. If there was an accident the vital organs will be saved such as the kidneys or heart. Lipids help aquatic animals such as sea lions, whales, penguins and all kind of fishes to float on water, it helps with the buoyancy. Many lipids are formed when a glycerol molecule combines with compounds called fatty acids. If each carbon atom in a lipid’s fatty acid chain is joined by another carbon atom through a single bond then the lipid is said to be saturated. Saturated means that the fatty acids contain the maximum possible number of hydrogen atoms. However, if there is at least one carbon double bond in a fatty acid then it is unsaturated. Lipids whose fatty acids contain more than one double bond are called polyunsaturated. You see these on food package labels because these fats are in there …show more content…
They contain nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Proteins are recognized as compounds that make up living organisms and are essential to their functioning. Whether found in humans, animals, plants or in single-celled bacteria, proteins are made of units of amino acids. Proteins consist of macromolecules called polypeptides, made from monomers called amino acids. Proteins have hundreds, thousands, or sometimes even millions of these amino acids. These amino acids are made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur. Some proteins consist of only single polypeptides. In most cases it involves two or more combined
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are molecular compounds made from just three elements: carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, usually in a ratio of 1:2:1. Monosaccharides (like glucose) are relatively small molecules. They …show more content…
The same three elements are involved in the structure of carbohydrates, but the amount of oxygen in the molecule present is much less than in carbohydrates. Lipids are generally not soluble in water. The most common categories of lipids are fats, oils, and waxes. Lipids can be used to store energy. Some lipids are important parts of biological membranes and waterproof coverings. Steroids are also known as lipids as well, steroids such as hormones serve as chemical messengers. Lipids insulate the body of animals and humans from very cold weather. Lipids tend to cover the vital organs of living organisms. If there was an accident the vital organs will be saved such as the kidneys or heart. Lipids help aquatic animals such as sea lions, whales, penguins and all kind of fishes to float on water, it helps with the buoyancy. Many lipids are formed when a glycerol molecule combines with compounds called fatty acids. If each carbon atom in a lipid’s fatty acid chain is joined by another carbon atom through a single bond then the lipid is said to be saturated. Saturated means that the fatty acids contain the maximum possible number of hydrogen atoms. However, if there is at least one carbon double bond in a fatty acid then it is unsaturated. Lipids whose fatty acids contain more than one double bond are called polyunsaturated. You see these on food package labels because these fats are in there …show more content…
They contain nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Proteins are recognized as compounds that make up living organisms and are essential to their functioning. Whether found in humans, animals, plants or in single-celled bacteria, proteins are made of units of amino acids. Proteins consist of macromolecules called polypeptides, made from monomers called amino acids. Proteins have hundreds, thousands, or sometimes even millions of these amino acids. These amino acids are made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur. Some proteins consist of only single polypeptides. In most cases it involves two or more combined