Types of Organic Compounds

The 4 main classes of organic compounds found in all living organisms

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Updated on November 25, 2019

Organic compounds are called "organic" because they are associated with living organisms. These molecules form the basis for life and are studied in great detail in the chemistry disciplines of organic chemistry and biochemistry.

There are four main types, or classes, of organic compounds found in all living things: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. In addition, there are other organic compounds that may be found in or produced by some organisms. All organic compounds contain carbon, usually bonded to hydrogen (other elements may be present as well). Let's take a closer look at the key types of organic compounds and see examples of these important molecules.

Carbohydrates—Organic Compounds

Spoons full of sugar cubes and powder sugar — Masanyanka / Getty Images

Carbohydrates are organic compounds made of the elements carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. The ratio of hydrogen atoms to oxygen atoms in carbohydrate molecules is 2:1. Organisms use carbohydrates as energy sources, structural units, and for other purposes. Carbohydrates are the largest class of organic compounds found in organisms.

Carbohydrates are classified according to how many subunits they contain. Simple carbohydrates are called sugars. A sugar made of one unit is a monosaccharide. If two units are joined together, a disaccharide is formed. More complex structures form when these smaller units link to each other to form polymers. Examples of these larger carbohydrate compounds include starch and chitin.

Carbohydrate Examples:

Glucose
Fructose
Sucrose (table sugar)
Chitin
Cellulose
Glucose

Lipids—Organic Compounds

Close-up of a bottle of olive oil pouring into a bowl — dulezidar / Getty Images

Lipids are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. Lipids have a higher hydrogen to oxygen ratio than is found in carbohydrates. The three major groups of lipids are triglycerides (fats, oils, waxes), steroids, and phospholipids. Triglycerides consist of three fatty acids joined to a molecule of glycerol. Steroids each have a backbone of four carbon rings joined to each other. Phospholipids resemble triglycerides except there is a phosphate group in place of one of the fatty acid chains.

Lipids are used for energy storage, to build structures, and as signal molecules to help cells communicate with each other.

Lipid Examples:

Cholesterol
Paraffin
Olive oil
Margarine
Cortisol
Estrogen
Phospholipid bilayer that forms the cell membrane

Proteins—Organic Compounds

Foods rich in protein — Maximilian Stock Ltd. / Getty Images

Proteins consist of chains of amino acids called peptides. A protein may be made from a single polypeptide chain or may have a more complex structure where polypeptide subunits pack together to form a unit. Proteins consist of hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen atoms. Some proteins contain other atoms, such as sulfur, phosphorus, iron, copper, or magnesium.

Proteins serve many functions in cells. They are used to build structure, catalyze biochemical reactions, for immune response, to package and transport materials, and to help replicate genetic material.

Protein Examples:

Enzymes
Collagen
Keratin
Albumin
Hemoglobin
Myoglobin
Fibrin

Nucleic Acids—Organic Compounds

Conceptual image of DNA — Stocktrek Images / Getty Images

A nucleic acid is a type of biological polymer made up of chains of nucleotide monomers. Nucleotides, in turn, are made up of a nitrogenous base, sugar molecule, and phosphate group. Cells use nucleic acids to code the genetic information of an organism.

Nucleic Acid Examples:

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
RNA (ribonucleic acid)

Other Kinds of Organic Compounds

Close up of a biotin bottle spilling pills — Iryna Imago / Getty Images

In addition to the four main kinds of organic molecules found in organisms, there are many other organic compounds. These include solvents, drugs, vitamins, dyes, artificial flavors, toxins, and molecules used as precursors to biochemical compounds. Here are some examples:

Acetaldehyde
Acetaminophen
Acetone
Acetylene
Benzaldehyde
Biotin
Bromophenol blue
Caffeine
Carbon tetrachloride
Fullerene
Heptane
Methanol
Mustard gas
Vanillin

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Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Types of Organic Compounds." ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/types-of-organic-compounds-608778. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2020, August 28). Types of Organic Compounds. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/types-of-organic-compounds-608778 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Types of Organic Compounds." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/types-of-organic-compounds-608778 (accessed April 16, 2024).