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wjec biology A Level > biological molecules > Flashcards

biological molecules Flashcards

1
Q

What is a ‘polar’ molecule?

A

A molecule that has an uneven distribution of electron density

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2
Q

What part of the water molecule has a partial negative charge?

A

oxygen atom

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3
Q

What part of the water molecule has a partial positive charge?

A

Hydrogen atoms

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4
Q

Since water is a polar molecule, what does it attract?

A

Other polar molecules

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5
Q

Why is it important for living organisms that water is a good solvent?

A

Allows chemical reactions to take place in solution
It can act as a transport medium
(blood transports many substances) (water transports dissolved substances in the xylem and phloem of plants)

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6
Q

What does oxygen in water become attracted to when mixed with sodium chloride?

A

Sodium
(oxygen is partially negative and sodium is positive, therefore they attract each other)

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7
Q

What is cohesion?

A

Cohesive force is the property of like molecules sticking together, being mutually attractive

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8
Q

What is high surface tension?

A

cohesion between the water molecules at the surface produces surface tension
(allows insects to walk on water)

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9
Q

What does cohesion enable in living organisms?

A

Allows water to flow, very important for transmitting substances

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10
Q

What does it mean if water has a high specific heat?

A

A large amount of energy is needed to raise the temperature
Good for organisms that live in water because the temperature wont raise

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11
Q

What does it mean if water has a high latent heat?

A

A large amount of energy is needed to change it from liquid to gaseous state
It takes a large amount of energy for sweat to evaporate taking temperature down more efficiently

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12
Q

Why is important that water transparent?

A

Because light needs to go through for photosynthesis

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13
Q

Why is it important that ice is less dense than water?

A

Because ice acts as an insulator

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14
Q

What are the 4 most common elements in living things?

A

Hydrogen
Nitrogen
Carbon
Oxygen

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15
Q

What are the 3 elements in carbohydrates?

A

Carbon
Oxygen
Hydrogen

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16
Q

Whats the basic formula for carbohydrates?

A

(CH2O)n

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17
Q

How many carbon atoms does Triose have?

A

3 Carbon atoms

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18
Q

How many carbons does pentose have?

A

5 carbon atoms

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19
Q

How many sugars does Hexose have?

A

6 carbon atoms

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20
Q

What are the two different isomers of glucose?

A

alpha and beta

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21
Q

Whats the difference between alpha and beta glucose?

A

Different structural formula (learn it!)

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22
Q

What are the main functions of monosaccharides?

A

Energy in respiration
Building blocks for larger molecules

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23
Q

What are disaccharides?

A

2 monosaccharide units joined together

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24
Q

What is hydrolosis?

A

water splitting
(A chemical breakdown of a compound due to reaction with water)

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25
Q

What molecules are formed when condensation reaction occurs?

A

water molecule

26
Q

What are polysaccharides?

A

Large complex molecules called polymers, contain large numbers of monosaccharides linked by glycosidic bonds

27
Q

What is a monomer?

A

Single repeating unit of a polymer

28
Q

What is a polymer?

A

A large molecule comprising repeated units (monomers) binded together

29
Q

Role of Magnesium in living organisms

A

constituent of chlorophyll, required for photosynthesis & leaves turn yellow if in short supply

30
Q

Role of calcium in living organisms

A

Important for the structural component of bones and teeth & provides strength.

31
Q

Roles of Phosphate in living organisms

A

Used for making neucleortides, ATP phospholipids (found in membranes)

32
Q

Role of iron in living organisms

A

Constituent of hemoglobin (which carries oxygen in red blood cells). lack of iron leads to anemia

33
Q

What is an organic molecule?

A

Molecules that contain carbon

34
Q

What is an inorganic molecule?

A

Molecules that usually do not contain carbon

35
Q

What two monosaccharides make up (disaccharide) maltose?

A

Glucose+Glucose

36
Q

What two monosaccharides make up (disaccharide) sucrose?

A

Glucose+Fructose

37
Q

What two monosacchardies make up (disaccharide) Lactose?

A

Glucose+Glactose

38
Q

What are the functions of disaccharides?

A

Provide energy and help wit the absorption of nutrients

39
Q

Why is starch and glycogen used for storage instead of glucose?

A

Insoluble so they have no osmotic effect
They cannot diffuse out of the cell
They are compact molecules and can be stored in a small space
They can carry a lot of energy in their C-C & C-H bonds

40
Q

Where is starch found?

A

Starch is the main store of glucose in plants.

41
Q

What are 4 types of polysaccharides?

A

Starch
Glucose
Cellulose
Chitin

42
Q

What is starch made from?

A

Two polymers of alpha glucose bonding in different ways forming amylose and amylopectin

43
Q

Differences between amylose and amylopectin 1

A

Amylose is straight chain polymer
Amylopectin is a branched chain polymer

44
Q

Differences between amylose and amylopectin 2

A

Amylase has alpha-1,4-glycosidic bonds forming between the first carbon C1 on one monomer and the fourth carbon C4 on an adjacent monomer.
Amylopectin has alpha-1,6 glycosidic bonds.

45
Q

What is the function of cellulose?

A

To make plant cell walls
Provide structure

46
Q

What is the structure of cellulose?

A

Consists of many long, parallel chains of beta-1,4-glycosidic bonds, the beta link rotates adjacent glucose molecules by 180°

47
Q

What are lipids made up of?

A

Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen.

48
Q

What do Phospholipids contain?

A

Phosphorus in a phosphate group.

49
Q

Do lipids have a charge?

A

They have no charge (non-polar) an are insoluble in water.

50
Q

What are Triglycerides formed of?

A

One molecule of glycerol and three molecules of fatty acids.

51
Q

What same molecule is in every lipid?

A

Glycerol.

52
Q

What are the products of lipid hydrolysis?

A

Glycerol and fatty acids.

53
Q

How do you know when the fatty acid is saturated?

A

Only single carbon-carbon bonds.

54
Q

How do you know when the fatty acid is unsaturated?

A

If any carbon-carbon bond is not a single bond, the molecule is unsaturated.

55
Q

Function of Triglycerides

A

Energy reserves, Thermal insulation, Protection, Producing metabolic water.

56
Q

Function of phospholipids?

A

Structural, Electrical insulation.

57
Q

Function of waxes?

A

Waterproofing

58
Q

What metabolic water mean?

A

Water released in the cell of an organism by its metabolic reactions.

59
Q

What can lipids dissolve in?

A

Organic solvents
e.g. alcohol and propanone.

60
Q

Triglycerides.
What happens when fatty acids join glycerol by condensation reaction?

A

Three molecules of water are removed and ester bonds are formed between the glycerol and fatty acids

61
Q

What are ester bonds?

A

An oxygen atom joining two carbon atoms.

62
Q

Why is phospholipids a special type of lipids?

A

polar head is hydrophillic
non-polar tails are hydrophobic

wjec biology A Level (2 decks)

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