Biochemistry (Water + Organic Compounds) Flashcards
Properties of Water
Cohesion: water molecules tick together due to hydrogen bonding. They form a skin at their surface. Water has a high surface tension. Some insects can stand on water, due to cohesion
Adhesion: water spontaneously stick to polar surfaces, spreading itself across them even if it means rising upwards against gravity. Adhesion enables water to rise up the hollow transport vessels inside of plant stems.
Thermal Properties: water has a high specific heat capacity. it takes alot of energy to warm or cool it down. An animal can warm up by bathing in water or cool down by bathing in cold water.
Water has a high heat latent capacity. It takes alot of energy to make water molecules evaporate. water in sweat evaporates. This carries the heat away from the skin.
Density: ice floats, forming an insulating layer which keeps the water below it warm. Ice is less dense than water, that protects animals that live in very cold water. Ice acts as an blanket which insulates the water. Water provides buoyancy to help animals float.
Sodium Chloride
Solubility in water: high
Transport mode in blood: dissolved in blood plasma
Glucose
Solubility in water: high
Transport mode in blood: dissolved in blood plasma
Amino acids
Solubility in water: high
Transport mode in blood: dissolved in blood plasma
Oxygen gas
Solubility in water: low
Transport mode in blood: transported by haemoglobin
Cholesterol
Solubility in water: low
Transport mode in blood: inside lipoproteins
Fats
Solubility in water: low
Transport mode in blood: inside lipoproteins
Organic Compounds found in human body
- Oxygen
- Carbon
- Hydrogen
- Nitrogen
Compounds in Carbohydrates
Carbon
Hydrogen
Oxygyen
Compounds in Proteins
Carbon Hydrogen Oxygen Nitrogen Sulfur
Compounds in Lipids
Carbon
Hydrogen
Oxygyen
DNA
Carbon Hydrogen Oxygyen Nitrogen Phosphorus
Inorganic Chemicals
mineral compounds such as salts (sodium chloride, potassium sulphate, ammonium nitrate)
Organic Chemicals
carbon based molecules found in living organisms
Exceptions of carbon based molecules that are inorganic
Carbon Dioxide
Carbon monoxide
Carbonates
Hydrogen Carbonates
