BIOCHEMISTRY NOTES Pre AP
I. Chemistry—study of what ________________ are made of and how they ________________________
(text pages 35 – 43)
A. Atom – fundamental unit of matter
1. Subatomic particles:
no = neutron
p+ = proton
e- = electron
B. Element - each different kind of atom is a different element
1. Examples: C = ___________
H = ____________
O = _______________ N = _____________
C. Compound - two or more elements chemically combined in definite proportions
1. Examples: __________
_________
_________
__________
2. _________ - types of compounds made of nonmetals only
isomers – same molecular formula; different structural formula
D. Chemical reactions – process leading to _____________________________
2 H2 + O2
2 H2O
(reactants)
(products)
E. Compounds are classified into two broad groups:
1. _______________ Compounds – come from _______________ substances ( in = not organic = living)
2. _______________ Compounds – come from _______________ substances
II. Biochemistry – chemistry of living organisms (text pages 44 – 53)
A. Organic compounds – compounds made by cells and containing carbon
1. Example: ___________________________________
2. Exception: __________________________________
3. Organic compounds in living cells are usually complex compounds that are so large they are
called ___________________________ (giant molecules) or ______________________
4. ____________________________ are formed by process called polymerization – smaller units called
______________ join together to form __________________
5. Four groups of organic compounds:
Draw picture to remember:
a. ______________________________
b. ______________________________
c. ______________________________
d. ______________________________
III. Carbohydrates
A. Provides energy for all organisms — __________________________________________________
B. Most carbohydrates are manufactured _____________ by photosynthesis.
C. Structure: contains the elements C, H, and O usually in ratio of 1:2:1
EXAMPLE: C6H12O6 = 6 C + 12 H + 6 O = 1 : 2 : 1 ratio of atoms
GLUCOSE 
D. Food Sources: Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Pasta, Rice, Sugar, Cookies, Cakes, etc…
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E. Three groups of carbohydrates:
1. ______________________________ = single sugar; basic structural unit from which larger
carbohydrates are built
(mono = one
sacchar = sugar)
Examples: sugars usually end in -ose
a. glucose – _________ - most common sugar, _______________ – produced by green plants
b. fructose -- __________ - sugar in fruits
c. galactose -- ___________ - sugar in milk
*Reminder - These are isomers; same molecular formula, different
structural formula 
2. ___________________________ – double sugar (di = two)
a. sucrose - cane sugar ___________________________
b. chemical reaction: 2 monosaccharides joined together to make a _____________________
glucose + fructose
sucrose + water
C6H12O6 + C6H12O6
C12H22O11 + H2O
When water is released in a
chemical reaction = dehydration
synthesis
Sucrose
3. ____________________________ – many sugars (poly = many)
Examples:
a. starch – polysaccharide stored in plants
_________________________________________________________
b. glycogen –polysaccharide stored in animals – ____________________________________
c. cellulose – polysaccharide that gives support and structure to plant cells ________________
most abundant organic chemical on earth
Starch
What is the purpose of storing sugars as polysaccharides in plant and animal tissues?
Take 5 – Complete concept map for Carbohydrates
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IV. Monomers/Polymers
1. General term for any smaller compounds that can be joined together to make larger compounds -_____________________
example: ___________________________________ of a carbohydrate.
-many glucose molecules can be joined together by dehydration synthesis to make a
polysaccharide (carbohydrate)
2. General term for any large compound formed by combining monomers -- ____________________
example: Starch, Glycogen, Cellulose = _____________
-These molecules are polymers made when many glucose molecules chemically
combine.
Everyday Example:
Monomer 
Polymer 
V. Proteins (also called peptides or polypeptides)
A. Needed for ________________________________________________________ of living materials
1. cell membrane, skin, nails, hair, bones and muscles made of protein
B. Fight disease – _______________________ made of proteins
C. Control rate of chemical reactions in cells – __________________ made of proteins
D. Food source – ___________________________________________________________________
E. Structure:
1. proteins are polymers of molecules called ___________________________
monomer = _______________________
polymer = _____________________
2. contain the elements C, H, O and N
Dehydration Synthesis of Proteins
F. ____ different _______________ combine in different ways to make up thousands of different proteins
G. Examples of protein structures:
Take 5 – Complete concept map for Proteins
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VI. Enzymes
A. Enzymes are ________________________ in living organisms
catalyst – substance that speeds up a chemical reaction
B. Most enzymes are made of _____________________
C. Enzymes are _______________________ in a reaction and can be reused
D. Enzymes are __________________ – speed up only one type of chemical reaction
E. Lock and Key hypothesis – an explanation of how an enzyme works
F. ____________________ – substance upon which a certain enzyme acts
G. Naming enzymes – add “ase” to substrate name
a. maltose is substrate – ________________ is enzyme
b. protein is substrate – ________________ is enzyme
H. One important function of enzymes is speeding up _____________________________________
I. Enzyme Diagram:
*Note: Anabolic – to build
Catabolic – to break down
The _____________
gets used up, but the
________________
can be used again
indefinitely
Take 5 – Complete concept map for Enzymes under the Protein Biomolecule
VII. Lipids
A. Functions:
1. energy storage – __________________________________________________________
2. makes up part of the cell membrane
3. hormones are lipids – ______________________________________________________
B. Examples:
1. Fats – ____________ at room temperature – butter, lard (animal fat)
2. Oils – ____________ at room temperature – corn oil, olive oil (plant fats)
3. Phospholipids and cholesterol – makes up ___________________________________
4. Steroids – type of hormone that can cross cell membrane directly into cells
(anabolic steroids – handout)
5. Waxes – ____________________________________________________________________
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C. Structure: fats and oils
1. Composed of glycerol and 3 fatty acids
2. Contain the elements C, H and O
When glycerol + fatty acids combine
to form 1 fat molecule, H2O is
released = dehydration synthesis
D. Dietary importance
1. _______________________ fats – generally come from animal fats
a. Bad for you – deposited in arteries – _____________________________________________
Saturated with hydrogens (H)
No double bonds in fatty acid chain
2. ________________________ fats – generally from plant oils
a. Better for you
Have one or more double bonds
in fatty acid chain
3. Cholesterol – 2 sources
a. your body produces it – essential to life: helps produce certain hormones and part of cell
membranes in animals
b. you consume it in food
1. bad cholesterol – _______ (low density lipoprotein) – goes to cells, excess deposited in arteries
2. good cholesterol – _______ (high density lipoprotein) – gets rid of excess LDL’s in arteries
Take 5 – Complete concept map for Lipids
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VIII. Nucleic Acids
A. Function is to store and transmit ____________________________________ from parent to offspring
B. Examples: ______________________________
C. Contains the elements: C, H, O, N, P
D. Nucleic acids are made from monomers called ____________.
The 3 components of a nucleotide are
1. 5 – carbon sugar (Deoxyribose or Ribose)
2. Phosphate Group
3. Nitrogenous Base
E. Food source: All living food sources contain nucleic acids. Food
sources high in nucleic acids include items such as fish, fruits, nuts, algae, and mushrooms.
Take 5 – Complete concept map for Nucleic Acids
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Function:
Carbohydrates
Examples:
3 groups:
Structure:
Elements:
Dietary Examples:
Draw:
Monomer:
Polymer:
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Function:
Enzymes:
Function:
Diagram:
Protein
Examples:
Structure:
Elements:
Monomer:
Dietary Examples:
Polymer:
Draw:
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Function:
Lipids
Structure:
Elements:
Draw:
Examples:
Glycerol
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3 Fatty
Acids
Function:
Nucleic Acids
Examples:
Structure:
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