carbon - component of all biological molecules  

• molecules w/ carbon can form straight chains, branches, rings
• hydrocarbons - molecules containing only carbon and hydrogen; energy-rich, makes good fuels (ex. propane gas, gasoline); nonpolar
• macromolecules - large, complex assemblies of molecules; separated into proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, carbohydrates
• polymers - long molecules built by linking together smaller chemical subunits
• dehydration synthesis - takes a -OH group and a H from 2 molecules to create a covalent bond between them, forming water as a byproduct
• catalysis - positioning and stressing the correct bonds; done by enzymes
• hydrolysis - adding water to break a covalent bond in a macromolecule

polymer macromolecules  

• amino acid >> polypeptide >> intermediate filament
• nucleotide >> DNA strand >> chromosome
• fatty acid >> fat molecule >> adipose cells w/ fat droplets
• monosaccharide >> starch >> starch grains in chloroplasts

functional groups - specific atomic groups added to a hydrocarbon core