biological molecules Flashcards
21What are elements?
Elements are different types of atoms and they are distinguished by the number of protons that they hold.
What are ions?
An atom with a charge. It must have gained or lost an electron.
What is a cation?
A positive ion (loses electron(s))
What is an anion?
A negative ion(gains electron(s))
what happens in covalent bonds?
The electrons will be closer to one atom than the other. Atom with a greater share of the electron(s) will be slightly negative. S^-. Atoms with a lower share of the electron(s) will be slightly positive. S^+
What does delta mean and provide example
Delta means slightly. For example, slightly negative or slightly positive
What does polar mean?
Uneven distribution of charge
What is water?
Water is a polar molecule. It is apart of the hydroxyl group (OH)
How are hydrogen bonds formed?
Polar molecules interact with each other so the positive and negative regions of the molecule attract each other and form the bond.
Hydrogen bonds are..
individually weak but collectively strong
What are isomers?
same molecular formula but different structure.
Importance’s of water
-Aquatic habitats
-solvent
-main component of blood
-in cytoplasm
-hydrolysis
-thermoregulation
-osmoregulation
Water as a solvent
-many ions will dissolve in it
-positive ions will be attracted to the slightly negative oxygen ion
-negative ions will be attracted to the slightly positive hydrogen ion.
-allows chemical reactions to occur within cells since dissolved solutes are more chemically reactive when they are free to move about
-metabolites can be transported efficiently(except non-polar molecules which are hydrophobic)
Water and high specific capacity
-Water has a high specific heat capacity of around 4200 J/Kg degrees
-high specific heat capacity is due to the many hydrogen bonds present in water
- a lot of thermal energy is required to break the bonds so temp of water does not fluctuate greatly
Advantages of high SHC in water
-provides suitable habitats
-maintain constant temperature as water is able to absorb a lot of heat without big temperature fluctuations
-vital in maintaining temperatures that are optimal for enzyme activity
-water in blood plasma is also vital in transferring heat around the body helping to maintain a fairly constant temperature
Water and latent heat of vaporisation
-A large amount of thermal energy must be absorbed by water to break the hydrogen bonds and evaporate.
-advantage for living organisms as little water has to evaporate for a great mount of heat loss
-provides cooling effect for living organisms (transpiration from leaves or evaporation of water in sweat on the skin)
Water/ Cohesion
-hydrogen bonds between water molecules allows for strong cohesion between water molecules (allowing columns of water to move through the xylem of plants and blood vessels in animals)
-enables surface tension where body of water meets air(hydrogen bonds occur between the top layer of water molecules to create a film on the body of water)
Water/Adhesion
water is able to hydrogen bond to other molecules such as cellulose
Why is oxygen slightly negative?
Oxygen has more protons than hydrogen so it is a more positive atom thus attracts the negative electron with stronger force making it slightly negative.
What is the general formula of the monomer glucose?
Cn(H2O)n
What is a monomer?
-smaller units that can join together to form a polymer
- 2 monomers join to make a dimer by a single bond
What is a polymer?
made from lots of monomers joined together
Name 3 monomers
glucose, amino acids and nucleotide
name 3 polymers
starch, protein and DNA and RNA
Carbohydrate is a biological molecule. What is it made from?
Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
Lipid is a biological molecule. What is it made from?
carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
Protein is a biological molecule. What is it made from?
carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur
Nucleic acids is a biological molecule. What is it made from?
Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorus
The 3 monosaccharides(monomers for carbohydrates)
glucose, fructose and galactose
The 3 disaccharides(dimers for carbohydrates)
sucrose, maltose and galactose
the 3 polysaccharides(polymers for carbohydrates)
starch, cellulose and glycogen
What forms maltose?
glucose + glucose(water is also formed)
What forms sucrose?
glucose + fructose(water is also formed)
What forms lactose
glucose + galactose(water is also formed)
Difference between alpha glucose and beta glucose?
in the alpha glucose the hydroxyl group is beneath hydrogen whereas in the beta glucose the hydroxyl group is above hydrogen.
Why is water formed when the monosaccharides make disaccharides
because the glucose is joined via glycosidic bond which is due to condensation which eliminates water as a by product
What is a condensation reaction?
joining 2 molecules together by removing water
what is a hydrolysis reaction?
splitting apart molecules via the addition of water(water is added and they return to their monosaccharides)
Alpha glucose details
-hexose
-molecular formula is C6H12O6
-produces energy. is absorbed in small intestine via bloodstream and transported into mitochondria
-monomer in starch
-monomer in glycogen
Beta glucose details
-hexose
-molecular formula is C6H12O6
-used to build cellulose
Ribose details
-pentose
-molecular formula is C5H10O5
-monosaccharide found in cells-essential in energy production