Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

1.1 - Molecular Biology > 1.0 Biological Molecules > Flashcards

1.0 Biological Molecules Flashcards

1
Q

All matter is made up of what?

A

Atoms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the 3 particles an atom is made up of?

A
  1. Protons, which have a +ve charge
  2. Neurtons, which have no charge
  3. Electrons, which have a negative charge
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the structure of an Atom

A
  • A central nucleus contains the protons and neutrons
  • The electrons circle the nucleus in orbitals or shells
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

If the overall charge of an atom is neutral, what is the ratio of protons and electrons

A
  • The number of protons and electrons are the same
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

How many protons do atoms of the same element contain e.g. Carbon

Same

More

Less

A
  • The same
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How many protons do carbon atoms have?

A
  • 6
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How many protons do oxygen atoms have?

A

8

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the atominc number

A

The number of protons contained in the nucleus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the mass number of an element

A

The number of protons plus the number of neutrons contained in the nucleus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is a molecule?

A
  • A molecule consists of 2 or more atoms joined together chemically:
  • The molecules in an atom can be the same
    • Eg Oxygen has 2 atoms of oxygen (O2)
  • Or the atoms can be different
    • Eg Carbon Dioxide has one atom of carbon and 2 atoms of Oxygen (CO2)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the name given to a molecule which is composed of different atoms?

A
  • A Compound
    • e.g. CO2
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is an Ion?

A

A charged particle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How is an ion formed?

A

When an atom or groups of atoms lose or gain electrons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What type of charge does an electron have?

A
  • Negative
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

If an atom gains an electron what happens?

A
  • It becomes an Ion with a negative charge
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the name given to Ions with a negative charge

A
  • Anions
  • AN IONS
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What happens when atoms lose electrons

A
  • Ions have a positive charge
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What do you call Ions with a positive charge?

A

Cations

CAT IONS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

A sodium atom which loses an electron is written how?

A
  • NA+
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

A chlorine atom which gains an electron

A
  • CL-
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

How do you write a nitrate ion

A

N03-

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

How do you write a phosphate ion

A

PO43-

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is an isotope?

A

An atom composed of the same elements with a different mass number

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What do some biologists use isotopes for?

A
  • They are used as tracers because they are radioactive
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

How do you write radioactive isotope carbon 14

A
  • 14C
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

How can 14C be used?

A
  • If it is fed to plants you can look at the formation of compunds made in photosynthesis by tracing what happens to the 14C
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Hydrogen - What is the…

Atomic number

Mass number

A
  • Atomic number - 1
  • Mass number - 1
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What is the structure of a Hydrogen atom?

A
  • 1 proton
  • 1 electron
  • No neutrons
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

How do you write a hydrogen Ion which has lost an electron?

A
  • H+
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What is pH

A
  • The measure of the concentraton of hydrogen ions present
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What if a pH is high?

A
  • High pH
  • High concentration of Hydrogen Ions
  • More acidic the solution
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What is the range of a pH scale

A

1 to 14

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

On the pH scale a value of 1 means what

A

Highly acidic

34
Q

On the pH scale a value of 7 means what

35
Q

On the pH scale a rating of 14 means what?

A

Stongly alkaline

36
Q

What type of scale is the pH scale, logarithmic or not logarithmic?

A

Logarithmic

37
Q

How much stronger is a pH of 1 vs a pH of 2

A

10 times more acidic

38
Q

How much stronger is a pH of 2 vs a pH of 3

A

10 times more acidic

39
Q

How much stronger is a pH of 1 vs a pH of 3

A

20 times more acidic

40
Q

How much more acidic is a pH of 1 vs a pH of 7

A

70 times more acidic

41
Q

What happens when an acid is placed in solution

A

It breaks up into ions (dissociates)

42
Q

What happens when hydrochloric acid is placed in solution?

A

HCL acid → H+ → CL-

Hydrochloric acid splits

43
Q

What happens when an Acid loses a hydrogen ion?

A

It leaves a base…

44
Q

What is a base

A

Any chemical which can combine with hydrogen ions

45
Q

What happens when the base NCO3- accepts a hydrogen ion?

A
  • NCO3- + H+ → HNO3

Base + Hydrogen Ion = Acid

46
Q

What is a buffer?

A

A chemical which can act as both a base or an acid

47
Q

What type of proteins keep the blood at a constant pH

A

Plasma proteins act as bases preventing the blood from becoming too acid or alkaline

48
Q

What happens when a base and acid react together

A

They form salts.

49
Q

What holds the atoms together inside a molecule

A

A chemical bond

50
Q

electrons which circle a nucleus are found in what

A

Orbitals or Shells

51
Q

How many electrons can the first orbital hold

52
Q

How many electrons can the second and third orbitals hold

53
Q

How many electrons can the subsequent orbitals/shells hold

A

An increasing number e.g. more than 8

54
Q

What happens when there is a positive sodium ion and a negative chloride ion

Attract

Move appart

Nothing

A

They are attracted to each other

55
Q

What is the name given when a negative and positive ion are drawn together

A

Ionic Bond

56
Q

In which type of compound can ionic bonds be seen

A

Sodium chloride

The Sodium (Na) loses an electron to become Na+

The Chloride gains an electrion to become CL-

An ionic bond is formed between the two ions.

57
Q

Whas is a covalent bond

A

A covalent bond occurs when one atom shares electrons with another atom.

e,g, Carbon has four electrons in its outer shell

It would become more stable if it gains 4 more electrons

Methane CH4 consists of carbon plus 4 hydrogen atoms

58
Q

What is the structure of a water molecule

A

A water molecule has

  • 2 hydrogen atoms
  • 1 oxygen atom,

Each oxygen atom has: 6 electrons in its outer shell and each hydrogen atom has 1 electron,

NB: Each of the two hydrogen atoms share an electron with the oxygen (Covalent Bond)

59
Q

When a molecule is said to be polar what does this mean?

A

A water molecule has more protons than electrons in its nucleus compared to each of the hydrogen atoms. These postively charged particles pull the shared electrons in the bond.

A water molecule contains H20, the oxygen end of the molecule has a slightly negative charge and the Hydrogen end of the molecule is slightly positive charge.

In such a case the molecule is described as polar.

60
Q

What is a hydrogen bond

A

When two water molecules are in close contact, their opposing charges attract each other. This forms a hydrogen bond.

61
Q

What is the most important property of water

A

It can stick together by forming hydrogen bonds with other water molecules

62
Q

What type of charge does a water molecule have?

A

It is Neutral e.g. 10 protons and 10 electrons

63
Q

How many protons and electrons does a water molecule have

A

10 protons

10 electrons

64
Q

What type of molecules allow the formation of hydrogen bonds

A

Polar molecules

65
Q

What is the name given to the sticking together of molecules

66
Q

What happens when a chemical dissolves in water

A

It is free to move about and to react with other chemicals

67
Q

What type of particles are attracted to water molecules

A

Water molecules have a slightly negative and positive charge and attract Ions and other polar molecules such as glucose.

e.g. The slightly negative charge of the Oxygen atom can attract the CATIONS Sodium and Potassium

68
Q

What type of non polar molecules will not dissolve in water

69
Q

What is the name given to a substance which hates water

A

Hydrophobic

70
Q

Why is water as a metabolite and transport medium important

A
  • In many cellular reactions water is either lost (photosynthesis) or made (respiration)
  • In animals, blood, tissue fluid and lymph transport many dissolved substances critical to health.
  • In plants water plays an important role in the way Xylem and Phloem function
71
Q

What sort of temperature range can most cells tolerate

A

Most cells can only function optimally within a narrow temperature range because the enzymes within them can only function optimally within this narrow range

72
Q

What is the definition of specific heat capacity

A

Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a substance per unit of mass.

In ​SI units, specific heat capacity (symbol: c) is the amount of heat in joules required to raise 1 gram of a substance 1 Kelvin.

73
Q

What type of substance has a high specific heat capacity

A

Water has a high heat capacity, which means that it needs a significant amount of heat energy to warm up and to lose a significant amount of heat energy to cool down

74
Q

How do animal regulate temperature in a warm climate

A

Sweating involves the conversion of water to gas, which requires a significant amount of heat energy to escape from the body which cools it down.

75
Q

Is water more dense as a liquid or ice

A

Water is more dense as liquid e.g. Ice floats on water, it does not sink.

76
Q

At what temperature is water most dense

A

4 degree centigrade

77
Q

What gives water its cohesive properties

A

Hydrogen bonds give water its cohesive properties

78
Q

Is water easy to compress?

A

Water is virtually incompressable compared to air.

So an olympic swimmer tries to streamline their body through the water to improve their speed.

1.1 - Molecular Biology (11 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions