What are the four chemical building blocks of cells?
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/AP_Biology/The_Chemical_Building_Blocks_of_Life
carbon monoxide,carbon dioxide,hydrogen and helium
The four chemical building blocks of cells are nucleotides, amino acids, fatty acids, and carbohydrates. Here's a breakdown of how to identify these building blocks:
1. Nucleotides: Nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA. To identify nucleotides, look for molecules consisting of three components: a five-carbon sugar (ribose or deoxyribose), a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base (adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine, or uracil).
2. Amino acids: Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. They consist of an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a side chain (also known as the R-group). To identify amino acids, look for molecules with these three components. There are 20 different amino acids commonly found in proteins, each with a different R-group.
3. Fatty acids: Fatty acids are the building blocks of lipids, such as triglycerides and phospholipids. They are long hydrocarbon chains with a carboxyl group at one end. To identify fatty acids, look for molecules with a long hydrocarbon chain and a carboxyl group at one end.
4. Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates include sugars, starches, and cellulose. They are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, typically in a ratio of 1:2:1. To identify carbohydrates, look for molecules with this ratio and a ring structure. Monosaccharides (single sugar molecules) and polysaccharides (complex sugar molecules made up of many monosaccharide units) are common types of carbohydrates.
These building blocks play vital roles in cellular processes and are essential for the structure and function of cells.