Resumo. Knowledge of seed chemical composition is very important in order to understand behavior during germination, storage and metabolic processes involved during reserve degradation, the latter of which affects seed vigor. The objective of this study was to assess changes in carbohydrates, lipids and proteins in the embryonic axis and in cotyledons during germination of Schizolobium parahyba. Seeds were placed in Petri dishes to germinate and samples were removed periodically for analyses. Germination was 88%, starting on the ninth day, and the germination rate was 7.7 seeds.day-1. Among fatty acids, oleic acids predominated in the embryonic axis and in cotyledons, with changes occurring during the observation period. The others fatty acids showed little change. The levels of starch and soluble carbohydrate behaved in a similar manner in both compartments with a decrease during the imbibition period. Protein levels in the embryonic axis decreased by the eight day, after increasing for two days. On the other hand, protein levels in cotyledons remained constant during the first two days, decreased on the six day and increased on the eight day.