Carbohydrates are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Carbohydrates include sugars, starches, cellulose, and chitin. Carbohydrates can be organized into four chemical groups including: monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides. The small carbohydrates called monosaccharides and disaccharides are typically referred to as sugars. Carbohydrates perform many roles in living organisms most notably energy and structural components (e.g. cellulose and chitin).

Carbohydrates are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Carbohydrates include sugars, starches, cellulose, and chitin. Carbohydrates can be organized into four chemical groups including: monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides. The small carbohydrates called monosaccharides and disaccharides are typically referred to as sugars. Carbohydrates perform many roles in living organisms most notably energy and structural components (e.g. cellulose and chitin).

Carbohydrates are known as sugars or saccharides. Virtually all carbohydrates end in the suffix "-ose," making them easy to identify. Ribose is a five-carbon sugar found in RNA. Some other common carbohydrates include deoxyribose, glucose, cellulose, and lactose. Sucrose is the technical name of table sugar, which is also a carbohydrate.

The other classes of molecules are fats, proteins, and nucleic acids. Fats, or lipids, can be further broken down into other categories, such as sterols and glycerolipids. Sterol lipids generally have the suffix "-ol" and include cholesterol and estradiol (estrogen). Glycerolipids include triglycerides. Proteins are formed from amino acids. Enzymes are a class of protein and generally have the suffix "-ase," such as helicase. Other proteins often have the suffix "-in" or "-en," such as insulin.

Carbohydrates are known as sugars or saccharides. Virtually all carbohydrates end in the suffix "-ose," making them easy to identify. Ribose is a five-carbon sugar found in RNA. Some other common carbohydrates include deoxyribose, glucose, cellulose, and lactose. Sucrose is the technical name of table sugar, which is also a carbohydrate.

The other classes of molecules are fats, proteins, and nucleic acids. Fats, or lipids, can be further broken down into other categories, such as sterols and glycerolipids. Sterol lipids generally have the suffix "-ol" and include cholesterol and estradiol (estrogen). Glycerolipids include triglycerides. Proteins are formed from amino acids. Enzymes are a class of protein and generally have the suffix "-ase," such as helicase. Other proteins often have the suffix "-in" or "-en," such as insulin.

All proteins have at least a primary, secondary, and tertiary structure, but only some, such as hemoglobin, have a quaternary structure. Secondary structures are determined by hydrogen bonding between different amino acids in the polypeptide chain that form the primary structure. There may be multiple and different secondary structures in a single protein.

All proteins have at least a primary, secondary, and tertiary structure, but only some, such as hemoglobin, have a quaternary structure. Secondary structures are determined by hydrogen bonding between different amino acids in the polypeptide chain that form the primary structure. There may be multiple and different secondary structures in a single protein.

Enzymes are polypeptides. Polypeptides are created from proteins/amino acids. They contain a nitrogen, and have a nitrogen-carbon-carbon backbone.

Carbohydrates are referred to as polysaccharides when they form large molecules. They function as energy storage, and are responsible for the structure of plant cell walls. They are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

Lipids in large molecules make up fats, oils, waxes, and phospholipids. They provide membrane structure, energy storage, and insulation. They are also made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, and contain numerous carbon-hydrogen bonds.

Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) are made of chains of nucleotides, bound together by phosphodiester bonds.

Polymers are molecules that are made of two or more repeating units of the same molecule or atom. For example, a polysaccharide is made of two or more monosaccharides bonded by dehydration synthesis. Lipids, on the other hand, are not. For example, triglycerides are composed of a glycerol molecule covalently bonded to three fatty acids via dehydration synthesis; however, fatty acids are elongated by the addition of methyl groups to the fatty acid chain.

Polymers are molecules that are made of two or more repeating units of the same molecule or atom. For example, a polysaccharide is made of two or more monosaccharides bonded by dehydration synthesis. Lipids, on the other hand, are not. For example, triglycerides are composed of a glycerol molecule covalently bonded to three fatty acids via dehydration synthesis; however, fatty acids are elongated by the addition of methyl groups to the fatty acid chain.

Enzymes are polypeptides. Polypeptides are created from proteins/amino acids. They contain a nitrogen, and have a nitrogen-carbon-carbon backbone.

Carbohydrates are referred to as polysaccharides when they form large molecules. They function as energy storage, and are responsible for the structure of plant cell walls. They are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

Lipids in large molecules make up fats, oils, waxes, and phospholipids. They provide membrane structure, energy storage, and insulation. They are also made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, and contain numerous carbon-hydrogen bonds.

Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) are made of chains of nucleotides, bound together by phosphodiester bonds.