Biochemistry Flashcards
What are the types of chemical bonds?
Ionic, hydrogen, polar covalent, and non-polar covalent.
What is an ionic bond?
A bond formed between a metal and a non-metal through the transfer of electrons.
What is a covalent bond?
A bond formed between non-metals through the sharing of electrons.
What characterizes non-polar covalent bonds?
Both atoms pull equally, resulting in no net charge and no poles.
What characterizes polar covalent bonds?
Unequal distribution of charges (δ+, δ-) due to greater electron affinity.
What are acids?
Proton (H+) donors with a pH range of 0 to 6.
What are bases?
Proton (H+) receivers with a pH range of 8 to 14.
What is a neutral pH?
pH 7, corresponding to a concentration of 10^-7 M.
What are acid-base buffers?
Substances that minimize changes in the concentration of H+ and OH-.
What is the function of hydroxyl groups?
They make the molecule water-soluble and can form hydrogen bonds.
What is the structure of carbohydrates?
They contain hydroxyl and carbonyl groups and can be classified as monosaccharides, disaccharides, or polysaccharides.
What are monosaccharides?
One-sugar units that contain hydroxyl and either a ketone or aldehyde group.
What are disaccharides?
Two simple monosaccharides joined by a glycosidic linkage.
What are polysaccharides?
Many monosaccharides joined together, often too large to be absorbed directly.
What are the four types of lipids?
Fats/oils/triglycerides, phospholipids, steroids, and waxes.
What is the structure of fats?
Composed of fatty acids with a polar carboxyl head and a non-polar hydrocarbon tail.
What is the main function of proteins?
They serve as structural units, enzymes, hormones, and transport molecules.
What are nucleic acids?
Polymers of nucleotides linked together by condensation reactions.
What are the two types of nucleotides?
Purines and pyrimidines.
What is the role of DNA?
It programs cell activity and provides instructions for protein synthesis.
What is the role of RNA?
It functions in actual protein synthesis, carrying messages from the nucleus to the cytoplasm.
What is a condensation reaction?
A reaction where two molecules join together by removing water.
What is hydrolysis?
A reaction where water is added to break apart a molecule.
What are redox reactions?
Reactions involving the loss (oxidation) and gain (reduction) of electrons.
What is the function of enzymes?
They act as catalysts to speed up chemical reactions by lowering activation energy.
What is competitive inhibition?
When a substance competes with a substrate for the active site of an enzyme.
What is non-competitive inhibition?
When a substance binds to an enzyme and changes its shape, preventing substrate binding.
