Chapter 3 - Section 1 Chemical Compounds in Cells
I. Chemical Compounds in Cells
A. ElementsAn element is any substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances. The smallest unit of an element is an atom.• Example of an element is carbon.
B. Compounds• A compound is two or more elements that are chemically combined.• The smallest unit of a compound is a molecule.• An example of a compound is water.
C. Organic and Inorganic Compounds• Inorganic compounds do not contain carbon. • Organic compounds contain carbon and hydrogen and usually are associated with living things.
Four groups of Organic Compounds
Carbohydrates | Lipids | Proteins | Nucleic Acids |
| Made of the elements carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen | Made of the elements carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen | Made of the elements carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen,and sulfur | Made of the elements carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and phosphorus |
| Supply energy for cell processes, form plant structures; short-term energy storage | Store large amounts of energy long term; form boundaries around cells | Regulate cell processes and build cell structures | Carry hereditary information; used to make proteins |
| Sugars-fruits, starch-pasta, and cellulose-found in cell walls of plants | Fats, oils, waxes, phospholipids, and cholesterol | Enzymes, skin, and hair | DNA and RNA |