Chemistry and Biochemistry Part 2

1. Chemistry and BiochemistryPart 2 For Advanced Diploma students of the WEA Hunter Academy of Complementary Health (c) WEA Hunter Academy of Complementary Health. Created by John Radvan. Reproduction or transmission without the express permission of the author is prohibited.

2. Chapter 3 ORGANIC MOLECULES: The chemistry of carbon and hydrogen

3. Organic Chemistry • Study of the chemistry of compounds containing CARBON (C) and HYDROGEN (H) • EXCLUDING oxides (CO2 and CO) • Existing everywhere in nature • All other elements are studied in Inorganic Chemistry • It is possible to synthesise organic molecules from inorganic! • Find out how by reading the first 2 paragraphs of p23

4. Pro Tip Carbon always has four bonds around it. Always. No really, always. Alright, possibly not always, but for you guys, always.

5. Organic Formulas • Let’s talk about the different ways Molecules can be represented in a book • Molecular Formula • Condensed Structural Formula • Structural Formula • Check them out in Fig 3.1 p23

6. John’s Rule • 1, 2, 3, 4 HONC!!! • This means that H has 1 bond, O has 2 bonds, N has 3 and C has 4 • Remember this and write it down somewhere, it will help you.

7. Hydrocarbons • Let’s study the table on p24 • It teaches us how to name molecules • You need to be able to name molecules • Let’s talk through how to do that using the information given

8. The long winded way • Here is how to name alkanes (as an example): • 1st find the longest carbon chain, count the C’s and add the prefix and suffix ‘ane’ together • 2nd name all the ‘branches’ seperately, giving each the suffix ‘yl’ instead of ‘ane’ • 3rd add numbers to signify where each branch is on the chain • Add ‘cyclo’ before the name of the main chain if it is in a ring • Look at the examples in Fig 3.3. Study them and make sense of them!

9. Alkenes and Alkynes • Once we are really good at naming alkanes, lets try naming some alkenes and alkynes • Pg 25 gives you instructions on how to do that. • Write your own instructions to yourself. Use the practice questions I give you (will be available on Engage Online for the flexi’s)

10. Reactions • Condensation • When two molecules squish together sometimes losing a small molecule in the process • Dehydration • Extracting water (look at the example of Fig 3.10 on p29)

11. Hydrolysis • Hydro = water; lysis = split • Add water, causing a split • Read the section on hydrolysis p29

12. Before we move on… • Read the section ‘Functional groups and biological utility’ on p30 • Write the definitions of: • Functional group • ‘R’ • There are many functional groups, however we are going to focus on those you are likely to encounter in biology/health

13. Functional Groups • Be able to describe the following: • Hydroxyl • Carbonyl • Carboxyl • Amino • Phosphate • Sulfhydryl • Use table 3.2 and the accompanying text to guide you

14. Chapter 4 LIPIDS: Fats and Oils

15. In a nutshell • Lipids are essentially fats • Insoluble in water • Soluble in nonpolar solvents

16. Fatty Acids • Almost all unbranched carboxylic acids • 14-20 Carbons (usually) • Always have even number of Carbons (made of ‘acetate’ units, which have two carbons)

17. Define… Question… • Hydrophobic • Hydrophilic • Amphipathic • Why are fatty acids ‘amphipathic’? • How does the length of fatty acids affect it’s melting point and solubility? • Saturated • Unsaturated • How does the desaturation of fatty acids affect it’s melting point?

18. A grand question • Using the knowledge you have just gained. Why do you think unsaturated fats are less likely to cause heart disease than saturated fats? • Summarise section ‘Some fatty acids improve human health’

19. Triglycerides • Animal fat and plant oils • acid part + alcohol part • Triglycerides merge with trialcohols called glycerol (the alcohol) • Also have three fatty acids attached (the acid) – these are variable, lots of different fatty acids can attach to the glycerol

20. Formation of Triglyceride • Need to understand the concept of ‘esterification’ • Each fatty acid’s carboxyl group ‘esterifies’ with the hydroxyl group on the glycerol • When this happens the amphipathic nature of the molecule ceases, it is now neutral • Look at the process in Fig 4.8A p42

21. Triglyceride Components • Different fatty acids in the triglyceride affect the nature of the resulting molecule • Eg: triglycerides with long saturated fatty acids in large quantities are solid at room temperature (butter and lard) • Those with unsaturated fatty acids are usually liquid (plant and fish oils) • Even the naked eye can tell if something is bad for you!

22. The big three • Let’s break into groups, each group is going to study one of the following: • Glycerophospholipids • Sphingolipids • Steroids • Then lets report back to each other what we have discovered. It’s our first symposium!!!