AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The four main classes of organic compounds (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids) that are essential to the proper functioning of all living things are known as polymers or macromolecules. All of these compounds are built primarily of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen but in different ratios.

Detailed explanation-2: -There are four classes of macromolecules (polysaccharides or carbohydrates, triglycerides or lipids, polypeptides or proteins, and nucleic acids such as DNA & RNA). Carbohydrates and lipids are made of only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (CHO). Proteins are made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen (CHON).

Detailed explanation-3: -11.1 Introduction: The Four Major Macromolecules These are the carbohydrates, lipids (or fats), proteins, and nucleic acids. All of the major macromolecule classes are similar, in that, they are large polymers that are assembled from small repeating monomer subunits.

Detailed explanation-4: -Biological macromolecules are organic, meaning that they contain carbon. In addition, they may contain hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and additional minor elements.

Detailed explanation-5: -Each of the four types of macromolecules-proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids-has its own characteristic set of functional groups that contributes greatly to its differing chemical properties and its function in living organisms.