1. Chemistry of Life!
A quick (very quick) introduction!

2. Carbon! It’s special!
 Because of it’s very special ability to combine in
many ways with itself and other elements it has a
central role in the chemistry of living organisms!

3. Forms of pure Carbon
 Diamond (Crystalline form)
 Graphite (Many flat layers; easily slide)
 Fullerenes (Sphere shaped)
 Nanotubes (long, hollow cylinder)

4. Organic Compounds
 Organic compounds are compounds that contain
carbon.
 Originally, scientists believed that organic
compounds only had to do with living organisms.
That is no longer believed to be true.
 Many organic compounds have similar properties
in terms of melting points, boiling
points, odor, electrical conductivity and solubility.

5. Polymers!
 A long repeating chain of molecules is called a
Polymer.
 Organic compounds can be linked together to build
polymers with thousands or even millions of atoms
in one strand.
 Polymers form when chemical bonds link large
numbers of monomers (smaller molecules) in a
repeating pattern.

6. More Polymers!
 Synthetic Polymers:
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Plastics
Glue
Chewing Gum
Synthetic fabric
 Natural forms of Polymers:
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Amino Acids
Proteins
DNA!!!
Silk!

7. CHONPS!
 Living organisms are made of molecules consisting
largely of:
 Carbon
 Hydrogen
 Oxygen
 Nitrogen
 Phosphorus
 Sulfur