Nucleic acids form the basis of the genetic code of living cells and are long strings of repeating subunits. For nucleic acid deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA, for example, the molecules contain a phosphate group, a sugar and the repeating subunits cytosine, guanine, thymine and adenine. The part of a DNA molecule containing cytosine has a chemical formula C9H12O6N3P, and the sections containing different subunits form long polymer molecules located in the nucleus of cells. Def of organic chemistry A lipid is one of a highly diverse group of compounds made up mostly of hydrocarbons. The few oxygen atoms they contain are often at the periphery of the molecule. Their nonpolar hydrocarbons make all lipids hydrophobic. In water, lipids do not form a true solution, but they may form an emulsion, which is the term for a mixture of solutions that do not mix well.
It’s a hot August evening at a park in the middle of North Hudson, Wisconsin, a village of just under 4000 people on the St. Croix river in the western edge of the state. A line of people are seated at tables set up inside a canvas tent. In front of a cheering crowd of friends, family, and neighbors, these brave souls are about to do battle . . .with a fruit plate. Modern definition of organic chemistry Last semester I had the pleasure of working with “Chris” (a pseudonym) on second-semester organic chemistry topics. Before we met, Chris had already obtained a