Lesson 1 Outline
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1. Notes on
¤  Common
Elements
¤  Monomers and polymers
¤  Hydrolysis reactions and synthesis
L1: Biomolecules we will cover
5
5
¨ 
Water
¨ 
¤  function
- universal solvent
¤  composition - H O
Carbohydrates
¤  function
- structural & enzyme
¤  composition - H O C N
(sometimes P, S)
¨ 
¤  function
- energy source
¤  composition - H O C
Lipids (Fats)
¨ 
¤  function
- energy storage
¤  composition - H O C
Proteins
Nucleic Acids (DNA, RNA
& ATP)
¨ 
¤  function
- genetic code
¤  composition - H O C N P
Elements of Life
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¨ 
¨ 
The three most common elements found in a human
body are oxygen, carbon and hydrogen which make
up 93% of your mass.
Minor elements are nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorous,
iron and sodium.
L1: Synthesis & Hydrolysis reaction
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Some simple Vocab:
¨ 
¤ 
monomer
n  mono
= one
n  mer = piece/part
¤ 
polymer
n  poly
= many
n  mer = piece/part
¤ 
Synthesis = to make/build
¤ 
Hydrolysis = to break down
n  Hydro
= water
n  lyse = to break
L1: Monomerà
Polymer
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Monomers are linked to other monomers by covalent
bonds to form polymers.
¨ 
L1: Synthesis reaction
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¨ 
AKA: Condensation reaction, Dehydration synthesis
In this reaction a H atom is removed from the end of one
building-block molecule and an (OH) group from the end of a
second molecule.
¨ 
WATER is being REMOVED!
¨ 
The two molecules (individual monomers) are now joined
together (polymerization) i.e.,
¨ 
H-A-OH + H-B-OH à
¨ 
¤  Example
protein synthesis
H-A-B-OH + HOH
L1: Hydrolysis reaction
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Synthesis reactions are reversible; the complex
organic molecules can be hydrolyzed into simpler
building-block molecules.
¨ This happens by ADDING water.
¨ 
H-A-B-OH + HOHàH-A-OH + H-B-OH
¨ 
L1:Diagram of Synthesis vs. Hydrolysis
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Monomers
Synthesis
Reaction
Hydrolysis
Reaction
H2 O
H2 O
Polymer
L1: Assignment Reactions
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Copy a schematic of the synthesis/hydrolysis
reactions of carbohydrates and proteins. pg 34 fig
2.13 on the bottom
¨  Add to summary sheet for Biomolecules
¨ 
Summary Assignment Molecules
Chp 2
1 
Condensation reaction Slide 12 pg 34