Polymers and Macromolecules
Polymers and macromolecules are large compounds that are created by combining many smaller compounds together. They can occur naturally or be created. Naturally occurring macromolecules include proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. Proteins are made from amino acids that form large proteins. Proteins perform vital functions … Keep Reading → throughout the body. Lipids are long chains of mostly carbon and hydrogen. The three types of lipids are fats, phospholipids, and naturally occurring steroids such as cholesterol. Lipids are very good at storing energy. Starch carbohydrates are formed from long glucose chains while sugar carbohydrates are formed from shorter glucose chains. Sugar carbohydrates are the simplest form of macromolecule and the quickest source of energy. Nucleic acids contain the structures that encode all of the protein molecules in our body. Not all macromolecules are naturally occurring. Polymers can be created for industry. Examples include plastics, nylon and polyester.
