Importance of Carbon and start discussing Carbs

Tuesday September 18^th

Organic compounds that make us up are made up of many atoms of which element?  Carbon

Why is this element so useful in making macromolecules (large molecules)

It is relatively small - it is Kind (it likes to share it's electrons with many other atoms such as Hydrogen, Oxygen, other Carbon atoms and Nitrogen) and it can bond with up to FOUR other atoms at once.

How many valence electrons does this atom have that can be shared with other atoms?

4 - so therefore it wants to find other atoms that will fill that up (hence why it could bond with up to 4 other atoms)

The four primary biomolecules that make us up are:

Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, Nucleic Acids

I had you guys watch the beginning of Hank Green's "Crash Course Biology" on Carbon.

Then we got through carbohydrates in the notes.  We will continue through these notes over the next couple days - remember - This friday we WILL have a daily question quiz!!!