2.3 CARBON COMPOUNDS
Carbon atoms have four valence electrons. Each electron can join with an electron from another to form a strong covalent bond. A carbon atom can bond to other carbon atoms, which gives carbon the ability to form chains that are almost unlimited length. Carbon has the ability to form millions of different large and complex structures.
Macromolecules are giant molecules in living cells. Macromolecules are formed by a process known as the polymerization. Polymerzation is where large compounds are built by joining smaller ones together. The smaller units, or known as monomers, join together to form polymers. Four groups of organic compounds found in living things are carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins.
Carbohydrates are compounds made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms, usually in a ratio of 1:2:1. Living things use carbohydrates as their main source of energy. Plants and some animals also use carbohydrates for structural purposes. Living things store extra sugars as starches which are complex carbohydrates.
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