This week we talked about different types of organic molecules. This was defiantly the hardest week so far. We learned how to identify different types of organic molecules, identify distinguishing features of each class of molecules and when given a molecule we learned to assign class. The different classes we learned about where amino acids, steroids (type of lipid), fatty acids (another type of lipid), sugars (building blocks of carbohydrates), and nucleic acids. We also learned about amino acids and how they are the building blocks of proteins – molecules that play an important role in the body. Something important we learned is organic molecule are carbon based and inorganic molecule are not.
The only Big Idea this topic connects to is Big Idea 4 A.1: “The subcomponents of biological molecules and their sequence determine the properties of that molecule.” We see this with CHNOPS (carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur). Depending on the elements making up the molecules its completely different. Different elements put molecules in different classes and give them different purposes and characteristics.
I had a hard time grasping the ideas of this week. It was reflected in my quiz. I’m not sure exactly what to do to better understand. Like last week, I don’t know what my questions are because I don’t understand enough. I don’t understand how you know what goes where and the different bonds between different atoms and molecules when drawing the different models. I also don’t understand what Vander Waals bonds are. The highlight of the week was the “Fun with Milk and Eggs” lab. It was a fun way to end the week and connect to lesson. It made everything feel less stressful and easier to understand.