Biological Molecules Flashcards
what is an element(atom)?
a substance that cannot be further broken down
what is a molecule?
a substance that consists of two or more atoms chemically bonded together
what makes a compound?
a molecule with more than one type of atom
what is the little number in molecular formulas?
subscript
what are the main atoms in living organisms?
Carbon (C), hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), and nitrogen (N)
how many covalent bonds can carbon form with other atoms?
four
what is a polymer?
a large chain-like molecule that is made up of smaller units called monomers.
what are three examples of polymers?
proteins [made of amino acids], Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) [made of nucleotides], and carbohydrates [made of monosaccharides.
what do carbohydrates do?
store energy and form structures for living organisms
what are polysaccharides?
carbs that are polymers of monosaccharides aka simple sugars.
what is glucose?
the monosaccharide which is commonly made by plants during photosynthesis and used by animals during cellular respiration.
what are some common polysaccharides and their functions?
Starch [used by plants to store energy], glycogen [used by animals to store energy], cellulose [forms the rigid cell walls of plants], chitin [forms the exoskeleton of many insects
what are proteins?
polymers made of amino acid monomers
what is a polypeptide?
a chain of amino acids
what do proteins do?
help cells keep their shape, makeup muscle tissues allowing for movement, transport other molecules in and out of cells, act as chemical messengers between cells, are enzymes that make chemical reactions happen, regulate which genes get used, etc.
