2.1 Molecules to Metabolism Flashcards
Give an example of a compound that is produced by living organisms but also can be artificially synthesised?
Urea. It is produced by the liver as a way of removing the nitrogen from amino acids, when there are excess amino acids in the body.
Chemical reactions can also make it, it is a different reaction but the urea gained is identical.
Urea
Ammonium + carbon dioxide = ammonium carbonate = urea + water.
This urea is used as a nitrogen fertiliser for crops.
Where is urea produced?
The liver.
What did the artificial synthesis of urea prove?
That the vitalism theory was incorrect. The theory of vitalism is that there is some other worldly force to creating something, that is different from purely chemical or physical forces. But when urea was synthesised just using chemical or physical means it proved vitalism wrong.
Why do carbon compounds have such complex structures?
Because they can form 4 bonds.
What are carbohydrates made from?
Carbon, Hydrogen and oxygen. There are always two hydrogen molecules to one oxygen.
What are lipids?
They are a class of molecules that are insoluble in water.
What are proteins?
They are composed of chains of amino acids. They all contain oxygen hydrogen, carbon and nitrogen.
What are nucleic acids?
chains of subunits called nucleotides, which contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorus. There are 2 types ribonucleic and deribonucleic.
What is an amino group?
NH2
What does ribose look like?
An oxygen and 4 carbons make a ring, then the 5th sticks up on the 4th.
What does glucose A look like?
DDUD.
What does glucose B look like?
UDUD
What does a fatty acid look like?
A chain of CH2 attached to a COOH, carboxyl group.
What does an amino acid look like?
An amine group (NH2) one end, a COOH the other and a hydrogen pointing down from the middle carbon and an R group pointing up from the middle carbon.
What can sulphur be present in?
Proteins but not lipids or carbohydrates.