Organic Compounds
- The building blocks of all living things.
- Contain Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H) and Oxygen (O) molecules.
Four types of organic compounds:
- Carbohydrates
- Used for quick energy
- Starch (stored in plant cells)
- Lipids
- Contain many H and C molecules with a few O
- Energy storage
- Structural component of membranes
- Essential parts of hormones
- Amino acids
- Contain H, O, N and P molecules
- Two types of Nucleic Acids:
- DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
- Stores information that controls cells.
- Contains 4 bases: adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine.
- RNA (ribonucleic acid)
- Large amounts in cytoplasm
- Contains 4 bases: adenine, guanine, cytosine and uracil.
Inorganic Compounds
Five types of inorganic compounds:
- Water (H_{2}O)
- Constitutes 70-90% of most organisms
- Important solvent and transport medium
- Chemical reactions in cells occur in water-based fluids
- Some reactions include water (photosynthesis)
- Oxygen (O_{2})
- Important for efficient energy supply, achieved by the process of cellular respiration in almost all organisms.
- Taken in as a gas by terrestrial organisms and in solution by aquatic organisms.
- Carbon Dioxide (CO_{2})
- Fundamental source of vital carbon atoms for organic molecules, usually starting carbon fixation by photosynthesis in autotrophs.
- Taken into plant leaves as a gas, converted to sugars and eventually returns to the atmosphere in the carbon cycle.
- Nitrogen (N)
- Makes up amino acids, which make up proteins.
- Plants absorb from soil.
- Absorbed by bacteria to make nitrates.
- Minerals
- Make enzymes which are needed for the structure and function of biological systems.
- Calcium is needed for bones and teeth.
- Sodium and potassium are important for the nervous system.
- Magnesium is important for muscular function.
- Iron is required for haemoglobin.