Organic matter - is a chemical compound, of which consists of carbon.Exceptions are only carbonic acid, carbides, carbonates, cyanides and carbon oxides.
history
The term "organic material" appeared in everyday life scientists at the stage of early development of chemistry.While dominated by vitalistic worldview.It was a continuation of the tradition of Aristotle and Pliny.During this period, the pundits were busy dividing the world into animate and inanimate.In this matter, without exception clearly divided into mineral and organic.It was believed that the synthesis of compounds of "live" agents need a special "force".It is inherent in all living beings, and without organic form elements can not.
It is ridiculous to modern science assertion prevailed for a long time, until in 1828 Friedrich Wohler was not empirically refuted.He was able to inorganic ammonium cyanate to obtain the organic urea.That pushed forward chemistry.However, division into organic substances and inorganic and preserved in real time.It is the basis of classification.Nearly 27 million known organic compounds.
Why are so many organic compounds?
Organic matter - is, with some exceptions, a carbon compound.In fact, this is a very interesting element.Carbon can form their atoms chain.It is very important that the relationship between them is stable.
Furthermore, carbon in organic compounds has a valence - IV.It follows that this element can form a connection with other substances not only single, and double and triple.With increasing multiplicity, chain consisting of atoms becomes shorter.In this regard, the stability is increasing.
carbon also has the ability to form a flat, linear and volumetric structure.That is why in nature since many diverse organic substances.
composition
As mentioned above, organic matter - is carbon compounds.And this is very important.Organic compounds arise during his connection with almost any element in the periodic table.In nature, most often in their composition (besides carbon) is composed of oxygen, hydrogen, sulfur, nitrogen and phosphorus.The other elements are much rarer.
Properties
Thus, organic material is a carbon compound.At the same time, there are several important criteria that it must meet.All organic substances have common properties:
1. existing between atoms of different typology ties certainly gives rise to isomers.Above all, they are formed when molecules of carbon.Isomers - a variety of substances having a molecular weight and composition, but different chemical and physical properties.This phenomenon is called isomerism.
2. Another criterion - the phenomenon of homology.This series of organic compounds, in which formula neighboring substances different from the previous one CH2 group.This important property is used in materials science.
What are the different classes of organic compounds?
Organic compounds include several classes.They are known to all.It proteins, lipids and carbohydrates.These groups can be called biological polymers.They are involved in the metabolism at the cellular level in any organism.Also in this group include nucleic acid.So we can say that the organic matter - is that we consume daily in food, then what constitutes.
Proteins Proteins consist of structural components - amino acids.It is their monomers.Protein is also called proteins.There are about 200 kinds of amino acids.All of them are found in living organisms.But only twenty of them are constituents of proteins.They are called basic.But in the literature can also be found less popular terms - proteinogenic amino acids and belokobrazuyuschie.The formula of this class of organic substances containing amine (-NH2) and a carboxyl (-COOH) components.Between themselves, they are connected by the same carbon bonds.
protein function
proteins in the body of plants and animals perform many important functions.But chief among them - a block.Proteins are the major components of cellular membranes and organelles in the cells of the matrix.In our bodies all the walls of the arteries, veins and capillaries, tendons and cartilage, hair and nails consist mainly of different proteins.
following function - enzyme.The proteins act as enzymes.They catalyze the flow of chemical reactions in the body.They are responsible for the breakdown of nutrients in the digestive tract.In plants, the enzymes fix the position of the carbon during photosynthesis.
Some types of proteins in the body carry different substances, such as oxygen.Organic matter is also able to join them.Thus the transport function is carried out.Proteins spread through blood vessels, metal ions, fatty acids, hormones, and, of course, carbon dioxide and hemoglobin.Transport takes place at the intercellular level.
protein compounds - immunoglobulins - responsible for performing the protective function.This antibody levels.For example, thrombin and fibrinogen are actively involved in the clotting process.Thus, they prevent massive blood loss.
proteins are responsible for the performance and contractile function.Because the actin and myosin protofibrils constantly perform a rolling movement relative to each other, there is a reduction of the muscle fibers.But even in unicellular organisms such processes occur.Movement of the flagella of bacteria are also directly related to the sliding of microtubules, which are protein in nature.
oxidation of organic matter releases large amounts of energy.But as a rule, proteins are spent on energy needs are very rare.This occurs when all the stocks are exhausted.It is best suited for this lipids and carbohydrates.Therefore, proteins can perform the function of energy, but only under certain conditions.
Lipids
organic matter and a fat-like compound.The lipids belong to the simplest biological molecules.They are insoluble in water, but dissolve in nonpolar solutions, such as benzene, ether and chloroform.They are part of all living cells.Chemically, lipids - esters of alcohols and carboxylic acids.The most famous of them - the fat.In the body of animals and plants, these substances perform many important functions.Many lipids are used in medicine and industry.
functions of lipids
These organic chemicals together with proteins in the cells to form biological membranes.But their main function - to power.Oxidation of fat molecules tremendous amount of energy released.She goes to the formation of ATP in the cells.In the form of lipid in the body can accumulate a significant amount of energy reserves.Sometimes they are even more than necessary for normal life.When pathological changes in the metabolism of the "fat" cells becomes greater.Although in fairness it should be noted that such excessive reserves are essential to animals, hibernate, and plants.Many believe that the trees and shrubs in the cold period of feed due to soil.In fact, they spend stocks of oils and fats, which are made during the summer.
In humans and animal fats can perform a protective function.They are deposited in the subcutaneous tissue and surrounding organs such as the kidneys and intestines.Thus, they provide good protection against mechanical damage, i.e. punches.
Additionally, fats have low thermal conductivity, which helps to retain heat.This is very important, especially in cold climates.In marine animals subcutaneous fat layer also promotes good buoyancy.But birds still carry the lipids and water-repellent and lubricating function.Wax covers their feathers and make them more flexible.A similar raid on the leaves have some plant species.
Carbohydrates
Formula organic matter Cn (H2O) m indicates a compound belonging to a class of carbohydrates.The name of these molecules indicates that they present oxygen and hydrogen in the same amount as that of water.In addition to these chemical elements may be present in the compounds, e.g., nitrogen.
carbohydrates in the cell are the main group of organic compounds.These are the primary products of photosynthesis.They represent starting materials and synthesis in the plants of other substances, such as alcohols, organic acids and amino acids.Also part of the carbohydrates the cells of animals and fungi.They are found among the main components of bacteria and protozoa.Thus, in an animal cell of 1 to 2%, and the number in the plant can reach 90%.
Today release of all three groups of carbohydrates:
- simple sugars (monosaccharides);
- oligosaccharides, consisting of several series-connected molecules of simple sugars;
- polysaccharides, their composition is more than 10 molecules of simple sugars and their derivatives.
functions carbohydrates
all organic substances in the cell perform certain functions.For example, glucose - is the main energy source.It splits in the cells of all living organisms.This occurs during cell respiration.Glycogen and starch is the main energy reserve, the first substance in the animals, and the second - in plants.
Carbohydrates also perform structural function.Cellulose is the main component of the plant cell wall.And arthropods performs the same function of chitin.It is also found in the cells of higher fungi.If we take the example of oligosaccharides, they are part of the cytoplasmic membrane - in the form of glycolipids and glycoproteins.Also often detected in cells glycocalyx.In the synthesis of nucleic acids involved pentoses.Thus included deoxyribose in DNA and ribose - RNA.Also, these components are found in the coenzyme, for example, FAD, NAD and NADP.
Carbohydrates also can perform in the body, and a protective function.Animals heparin active substance prevents the rapid blood clotting.It is produced during tissue injury and blocks the formation of clots in blood vessels.Heparin is found in large quantities in mast cells in the granules.
nucleic acid
proteins, carbohydrates and lipids - it's not all known classes of organic compounds.Chemicals refers here yet, and nucleic acids.This phosphorus biopolymers.They are found in the cell nucleus and cytoplasm of all living beings, provide transfer and storage of genetic data.These substances were discovered thanks biochemist F. Miescher, who studied the sperm of salmon.It was "accidental" discovery.A little later, RNA and DNA have been found in all plant and animal organisms.There have also been isolated nucleic acid in cells of bacteria and fungi, and viruses.Total
naturally found two kinds nukleokislot - ribonucleic (RNA) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).The distinction is clear from the title.The structure of DNA deoxyribose part - five-carbon sugar.A RNA molecule detected ribose.
study of nucleic acids involved in organic chemistry.Topics for research and medicine dictates.The DNA codes can reveal a variety of genetic diseases, which scientists discover yet to be.
