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Biology A Level Eduqas > Biological Compounds Topic 1 > Flashcards

Biological Compounds Topic 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

Name the 4 key inorganic ions for living organisms

A

Magnesium (Mg2+)
Iron (Fe2+)
Calcium (Ca2+)
Phosphate (PO4^3-)

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2
Q

Role of Mg2+ in plants?

A

Producing chlorophyll

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3
Q

Role of Fe2+ in animals

A

Used in haemoglobin, to transport oxygen

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4
Q

Role of PO4³- in living organisms

A

To produce ADP and ATP

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5
Q

Role of CA²+ in living organisms

A

Strengthen tissues eg bones and teeth in animals and cell walls in plants

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6
Q

Why is water a polar molecule?

A

The oxygen is more electronegative than the hydrogen. So O attracts electron density in the covalent bond more forming a δ- in O and a δ+ in H

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7
Q

Describe the hydrogen Bonding in water molecules

A

Weak Intermolecular forces of attraction form between a lone pair on the δ- O and a δ+ H on an adjacent molecule

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8
Q

What is a metabolite?

A

A molecule formed or used in metabolic reactions

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9
Q

Describe the role of water as a metabolite

A

Water is a reactant in photosynthesis and hydrolysis reactions. And is a product of aerobic respiration and condensation reactions

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10
Q

Why is waters high specific heat capacity important for organisms

A

Acts as a temperature buffer, preventing large changes in core temperature and maintaining optimum enzyme activity

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11
Q

Why is waters high latent heat of vaporisation important for organisms?

A

When water evaporates it has a cooling effect. Important for homeostasis, so organisms can lose heat by panting or sweating

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12
Q

Why is water important as a solvent for organisms

A

It is a polar universal solvent. Enabling chemical reactions to take place within cells, the transport or materials in the plasma and removal of metabolic waste

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13
Q

Why does water have a high surface tension/

A

Due to the ordered arrangement and cohesion of molecules at the surface or water

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14
Q

Why is the high surface tension of water important for organisms?

A

Enables the transport of water and nutrients through plant stems and small blood vessels in the body, and allows small insects to walk on the surface of water

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15
Q

What is a monosaccharide?

A

A simple sugar with the formula of Cn(H2O)n

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16
Q

Give an example of some monosaccharides

A

Fructose, Ribose, Deoxyribose, alpha/beta glucose, galactose

17
Q

Draw alpha glucose

A

-OH on the far right is facing down

18
Q

Draw beta glucose

A

-OH on the far right is facing up

19
Q

What is the name of the bond formed when 2 monosaccharides react?

A

Glycosidic bond

20
Q

What is a disaccharide?

A

Molecule formed by the condensation of 2 monosaccharides, forming a glycosidic bond. Formula (C12H22O11)

21
Q

Give examples of disaccharides and how they’re formed

A

Sucrose - Glucose + Fructose
Maltose (2x alpha glucose)
Lactose - Glucose + Galactose

22
Q

What is a polysaccharide?

A

A polymer of monosaccharides, formed by many condensation reactions

23
Q

Give some examples of polysaccharides

A

Starch, Glycogen, Cellulose, Chitin

24
Q

What is the function of starch?

A

Energy storage in plants

25
Q

Describe the structure of starch

A

Polymer of alpha glucose monomers
2 forms - amylose and amylopectin
Amylose - 1-4 glycosidic bonds and unbranched
Amylopectin - 1-4/1-6 glycosidic bonds and branched

26
Q

What is the function of glycogen?

A

Energy storage in animals

27
Q

How does the structure of glycogen relate to its function?

A

It is highly branched, so it rapidly hydrolyses into glucose

28
Q

Describe the structure and function of cellulose

A

Linear polysaccharide that is the main component of the cell wall in plants
Consists of many beta glucose molecules joined by beta 1-4 glycosidic bonds
Alternate glucose molecules rotated 180 degrees allowing hydrogen bonds between parallel chains forming myofibirils

29
Q

Describe the structure and function of chitin

A

Linear polysaccharide found in the exoskeleton of insects and crustaceans as well as fungal cell walls
Consists of many beta glucose molecules with amino acid side chains joined by beta 1-4 glycosidic bonds
Alternate glucose molecules rotated 180 degrees allowing hydrogen bonds between parallel chains forming myofibirils

30
Q

Explain how a triglyceride is formed

A

One molecule of glycerol forms ester bonds with 3 fatty acids via condensation reactions

31
Q

Explain the importance of the structure of triglycerides to their function

A
  • High energy to mass ration, high calorific value from oxidation, so useful energy store
  • Insoluble, so it doesnt effect the water potential of cells and waterproofs them
  • Thermal insulation, as they are a slow conductor of heat
  • Buoyancy, from a lower density than water
32
Q

What is a phospholipid?

A

Formed by the condensation of one molecule of glycerol, 2 of fatty acid and a phosphate group

33
Q

Relate the structure of phospholipids to their function

A

Glycerol backbone attached to to hydrophobic fatty acid tails and one hydrophilic polar phosphate head:
- Forms phospholipid bilayer in water (component of cell membrane)
- Tails splay outwards - allowing for waterproofing, eg skin

34
Q

Difference between saturated and unsaturated fats

A

Saturated - have no C=C bonds and are solid at room temp because they have strong intermolecular forces
Unsaturated - have one or more C=C bonds, and are liquid at room temp due to week intermolecular forces.

35
Q

What is meant by low density lipoprotein (LDL)?

A

Combination of triglycerides from unsaturated fats and protein
Blocks receptor sites, reducing cholesterol absorption
Known as ‘bad’ lipoproteins

36
Q

How do LDLs contribute to the risk of cardiovascular?

A

The high blood cholesterol level caused by LDLs leads to formation of athersclerosis plaques

37
Q

Describe the general structure of an amino acid

A

Amine Group (-NH2)
Variable side chain (R)
Carboxyl group (-COOH)
H atom

38
Q

How are polypeptides formed?

A

Many amino acid monomers join together in condensation reactions, forming peptide bonds (-CONH-)

Biology A Level Eduqas (25 decks)

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