1. Chemistry of life Flashcards
What is the monomer of lipids?
1 Glycerol and 3 Fatty acids
What is the monomer of carbohydrates?
Monosaccharides
What is the monomer of proteins?
Amino acids
What are the 2 Inorganic compounds?
Water and Mineral Salts
Give 4 examples of Organic compounds
Vitamins, lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids
List 3 ways in which water is used
-As a solvent
-In reproduction
-For temperature control
-For transport of substances
Give the definition of a macro mineral
needed in large quantities by organisms
Give the definition of a micro mineral
needed in minute quantities by organisms
What is the function of Sodium
-Maintenance of water balance in the body
-Normal functioning of nerves and muscles
Give 2 Sodium defiency’s
-Fatigue
-thirst
-lethargy
-muscle cramps
What is the function of Potassium?
Normal functioning of nerves and muscles
Give 3 Potassium defiency’s
-paralysis
-muscle weakness
-abnormal heart rhythm
What is the function of calcium?
Normal formation of bones and teeth
Give the defiency of calcium
-Rickets(children)
-Osteoporosis(adults)
What is the function of phosphorus?
-normal formation of bones and teeth
-production of DNA and RNA
-growth and maintenance of tissue and cells
Give 3 defiencies of phosphorus
-Anorexia
-Anaemia
-Rickets
-Increased infection
What are the elements of macro minerals?
-Sodium
-Calcium
-Potassium
-Phosphorus
What are the elements of micro minerals?
-Iron
-Iodine
What is the function of Iron?
required for synthesis of hemoglobin
What is the defiency of Iron?
Anaemia
What is the function of Iodine?
-component of thyroxin(hormone secreted by thyroid gland)
-regulates your metabolism
What is the defiency for Iodine?
Goitre
Explain Eutrophication
-Overabundance of nitrates and phosphates in water
-Algal bloom=excessive growth of algae
-Prevents sunlight from reaching aquatic plants
-Algae and plants die
-Decomposition depletes oxygen from the water
-Causes death of other aquatic organisms
What are organic compounds made up of?
-Carbon
-hydrogen
-oxygen
-sometimes nitrogen,Sulphur, phosphorus
What is used when testing for glucose?
Benedicts solution
What is the colour change when glucose is present?
the blue Benedicts solution turns brick red
What is used when testing for starch?
Iodine
What is the colour change when starch is present?
yellow-brown iodine solution turns brick red
What is used when testing for protein?
Biuret test- copper sulphate(CuSO4) and sodium hydroxide(NaOH)
What is the colour change when protein is present?
blue solution turns purple/violet
What is used when testing for lipids?
ethanol or ether
What change occurs when lipids are present?
a translucent mark is left on the filter paper
What are the elements of carbohydrates?
oxygen, hydrogen and carbon
What are the elements of lipids?
carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
What are the elements of proteins?
carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen (sometimes sulphate, iron, phosphorus)
What are the functions of carbohydrates?
-store energy
-provide energy
-provide structure and protection
What are the functions of lipids?
-provide structure
-absorb nutrients
-provide insulation
-protect organs
-waterproofing
What are the functions of proteins?
-store energy
-allow movement
-provide protection as antibodies
-source of amino acids
-provide structure and support
Give the 3 types of carbohydrates
-Monosaccharides
-Disaccharides
-Polysaccharides
Provide the amount of sugar molecules each type of carbohydrate contains
Monosaccharides: single
Disaccharides: two
Polysaccharides: many
Provide examples for each type of Carbohydrate
Monosaccharide:glucose, fructose
Disaccharides:maltose, sucrose
Polysaccharide:starch, glycogen, cellulose
What are the 2 molecules of lipids?
Saturated and Unsaturated
Give the characteristics of saturated lipids
-solids at room temperature
-fats from animals
-single bond between atoms
Give the characteristics of unsaturated lipids
-liquids at room temperature
-oils from plants and fish
-double bonds between atoms
Provide 2 examples of both saturated and unsaturated lipids
Saturated: lard, butter
Unsaturated: olive oil, avo oil, margarine
Provide the definition of cholesterol
Lipid made and used by the body to keep healthy
Name the 2 types of lipids
- Low-density lipo-protein (LDL)
- High-density lipo-protein (HDL)
What sickness is developed when plaque makes arteries narrow and hard?
atherosclerosis
What does HDL do?
-slows down plaque build-up
-prevents a heart attack by carrying cholesterol away from the heart to the liver for excretion.
What are Triglycerides?
Fat made in the body
What are high levels of Triglycerides caused by?
-being overweight
-smoking
-no exercise
-high carb diet
-too much alcohol
What are the names of the 2 protein defiencies?
kwashiorkor and marasmus
What factors affect protein structure (denaturation)
-High temperature
-extreme acidity/alkalinity
-high salt concentration
What is the definition of an enzyme?
Modified protein which activates/speeds up chemical reactions
List 4 properties of enzymes
-substrate specific
-has optimum temp. and pH conditions
-not used up or destroyed during the reaction
-may change shape during a reaction, but not permanently
-break down/synthesise(build) molecules
What is the optimum temperature for enzymes?
+/- 35°C
What happens to an enzyme when temperature is higher than 40°C
The enzyme starts denaturing
What happens to an enzyme if the temperature is below 5°C
the enzyme is inactive
What substance breaks fat down into Glycerol and Fatty acids?
lipase
What substance breaks protein down into amino acids?
protease
What substance breaks starch down into sugars
amylase
What are the 3 functions of enzymes?
-perform anabolic or catabolic reactions
-control specific reactions
-acts as catalysts by lowering the activation energy of reactions.
Provide 3 examples of enzymes in everyday life.
-In washing powders to break down molecules.
-Amylases break down starches.
-Proteases break down protein. (blood, egg, gravy)
Provide the chemical equation for catalase breaking hydrogen peroxide downbto form oxygen, gas and water.
2H2O2 - - > O2+2H2O
What are the elements of nucleic acids?
C, H, O, N and P
What is the monomer of nucleic acids?
Nucleotides
What doe nucleotides consist of?
Pentose sugar, Phosphate molecule and nitrogenous base
What does DNA stand for?
Deoxyribonucleic acid
What does RNA stand for?
Ribonucleic acid
Where is DNA found?
In the nucleus
What does DNA do?
Stores info as genes to make proteins
Where is RNA found?
In the nucleus and on ribosomes
What does RNA do?
Helps to make proteins from amino acids.
Connect the bases of DNA
Adenine-Thymine
Guanine-Cytosine
Thymine-Adenine
Cytosine-Guanine
What are the bases of RNA?
Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine and Uracil
What pentose sugar does DNA and RNA contain?
DNA: Deoxyribose
RNA: Ribose
How many strands does DNA and RNA have?
DNA: Double stranded(double helix)
RNA: Single stranded
Provide the definition of DNA replication.
Process during which a DNA molecule makes an exact copy of itself.
When does DNA replication take place?
during the interphase of the cell cycle
Provide the definition of protein synthesis.
Process by which proteins are manufactured in the ribosomes of the cell.
What does DNA do in protein synthesis?
Carries the code for the sequence of amino acids.
What does RNA do in protein synthesis?
facilitates the process of forming the protein.
What 2 processes are involved in protein synthesis?
Transcription and Translation
Where does Transcription take place?
In the nucleus
Where does Translation take place?
At the ribosomes.
What happens during Transcription?
mRNA copies the message from DNA and takes it to the ribosomes.
What happens during Translation?
tRNA transfers amino acids which join to form a protein.
What is the function of Vitamins?
Helps control metabolic reactions
What is the function of Vitamin A?
Night vision, boosts immune system
Provide a Vitamin A defiency
Nightblindness
What are sources of Vitamin A?
fish oil, dairy products, yellow vegetables
What is the function of Vitamin B?
boosts immune system, red blood cell formation
Provide a Vitamin B defiency.
Beri-Beri and Pellagra
What are sources of Vitamin B?
Legumes, nuts, liver, cereals
What is the function of Vitamin C?
boosts immune system, antioxidant and wound-healing.
Provide a defiency for Vitamin C
Scurvy, prone to infections
What are sources of Vitamin C?
citrus fruit, tomatoes, strawberries
What is the function of Vitamin D?
blood pressure, regulation of bone growth.
Provide a defiency for Vitamin D
Rickets
What are the sources of Vitamin D?
liver, egg yolk, dairy, made in skin using sunlight
What is the function of Vitamin E?
antioxidant, boost immune system
Provide a defiency for Vitamin E
immune system disorders
What are the sources of Vitamin E?
pumpkin, peanuts, spinach, sunflower seeds
What is a balanced diet?
All the different food groups in the proportions and ratios.
Provide the definition of a peptide link
bond between amino acids
Provide the definition of an active site.
Part of the enzyme that the substrate molecule fits into.
Provide the definition of a substrate.
substance in which an enzyme acts upon.
Provide the definition of an anabolic reaction
type of reaction when a simple molecule is built up to a complex molecule.
Provide the definition of a catabolic reaction.
type of reaction when a complex molecule is broken down into a simpler molecule
