Biochemistry of Molecules Flashcards

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1
Q

Why is chemistry important?

A
  • Involved in every biological process
  • structure, function and interaction of bio molecules is dependent on chemistry principles
  • supplements/ medicine - impact the reactions
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2
Q

What do atoms consist of?

A

Protons (+ve), neutrons (neutral) and electrons (-ve)

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3
Q

What determines the element we have?

A

The number of protons

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4
Q

What is the atomic number?

A

The number of protons

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4
Q

Why is the atom neutral?

A

Same number of protons and neutrons

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5
Q

What is the atomic mass?

A

Protons+ neutrons

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6
Q

What is an isotope?

A

Same element but has different numbers of neutrons (changing atomic mass but not chemical properties)

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7
Q

What are radioactive isotopes called?

A

Radioisotopes

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8
Q

3 uses of isotopes

A

Carbon dating - 14C - age of organic artefacts due to half life
Medicine- Tc attached to a pharmaceutical to deliver it to a target site
Anti doping- measures metabolite

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9
Q

What are the 5 key topics in chemistry?

A

Polarity
Intermolecular forces
Functional groups
pH
Molarity

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10
Q

What is a functional group?

A

The functional group is an arrangement of atoms that is responsible for the chemical characteristics of a compound (e.g. how it reacts with other compounds)

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11
Q

What are the 3 main types of functional groups?

A

Hydroxyl
Amine
Carbonyl

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12
Q

What is a hydroxyl group?

A

Oxygen bonded to a hydrogen and an organic molecule (carbon)
Polar bond between O and H

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13
Q

What is an amine group?

A

Contain a nitrogen atom with a lone pair of electrons

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14
Q

What is a carbonyl group?

A

Carbon atom is double bonded to an oxygen and 2 side chains

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15
Q

What is an intermolecular force?

A

A force between molecules
Driven by polarisation
Stronger forces = more energy to break molecules apart

16
Q

What is a van der Waals force/interaction?

A

Electrons that orbit the nucleus create a cloud of -ve charge
can be temporarily concentrated to one part of the atom and attracted to the +ve end of another molecule
Stronger = higher bpt

17
Q

Dipole Dipole attractions

A

Permanently in a state of polarisation so are attracted to each other

18
Q

What is a covalent bond?

A

Bonds within a molecule

19
Q

How does a hydrogen bond form?

A

Hydrogen is covalently bonded to fluorine, nitrogen or oxygen

20
Q

Intermolecular forces within ionic compounds

A

Transfer electrons so atoms are permanently charged
forms a large lattice structure
High strength = high bpt

21
Q

Importance of ionic solutions

A

Used to maintain cell potentials and cell signalling

22
Q

What is a mole?

A

Avogadro’s constant = 6.02 x 10`23

23
Q

What is molar concentration?

A

Refers to the number of moles of a substance in a defined volume

24
Q

What is the equation for molarity?

A

Mass= molecular weight x number of moles

25
Q

What is pH?

A

Term used to describe the acidity of a solution
Relates to the concn of H+ ions present
More H+ = more acidic

26
Q

Importance of pH?

A

Blood is kept at 7.4
If you change this pH proteins may unfold or deform

27
Q

What is polarisation?

A

Atoms have differing levels of electronegativity which attracts shared electron pairs towards them which can create a polar bond where the more electro-ve atom becomes -ve charged

28
Q

What is electronegativity?

A

a measure of the ability of an atom that is bonded to another atom to attract electrons to itself

29
Q

What is the importance of polarity?

A

Polar molecules are soluble in water
Determines its ability to transport in/ out of cells

30
Q

What is a dipole?

A

Difference in electronegativity between 2 atoms.
A difference greater than 2 = ionic bond
A difference less than o.5 = non polar covalent
Between 0.5 and 2 = polar covalent