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biological molecules Flashcards

1
Q

magnesium’s function in plants

A

making chlorophyll (lack of =chlorosis)

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2
Q

iron’s function in animals

A

forms haemoglobin

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3
Q

calcium’s function in animals

A

strengthens bones and teeth in animals

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4
Q

phosphate’s function in animals

A

forms phospholipids (found in membranes)

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5
Q

give 9 properties of water

A

universal solvent, metabolite, high specific heat capacity, high latent heat of vaporisation, cohesion, high surface tension, high density, transparent

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6
Q

what does universal solvent mean

A

can dissolve all polar and charged molecules

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7
Q

explain why water is a polar molecule

A

different charges on opposite sides of the molecule, but has a neutral charge overall. (hydrogen has slight positive charge, oxygen has a slight negative charge)

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8
Q

definition of hydrolysis

A

the breaking down of larger molecules into smaller molecules through the addition of a molecule of water

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9
Q

definition of condensation reaction

A

chemical process in which two molecules combine to form a more complex molecule, with the elimination of a molecule of water

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10
Q

definition specific heat capacity

A

the energy required to raise the temperature of 1g of substance by 1 degree celsius

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11
Q

definition of latent heat of vaporisation

A

energy required to convert 1g of a liquid into vapour at the same temperature

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12
Q

explain the importance of water having a high specific heat capacity

A

a large amount of heat energy is needed to raise its temperature, which prevents large fluctuations in temperature, which keeps aquatic environments stable

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13
Q

explain the importance of water having a high latent heat of vaporisation

A

a lot of energy is needed to convert a liquid to a vapour (e.g. sweat), as the water evaporates, the body cools

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14
Q

explain the importance of cohesion in water

A

water molecules attract each other, forming hydrogen bonds = weak bonds but with many it forms a lattice

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15
Q

what characteristic of water allows columns of water to be drawn up xylem vessels in plants

A

cohesion between water molecules

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16
Q

explain the importance of high surface tension in water

A

cohesion between water molecules produces surface tension - body of an insect is supported

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17
Q

explain the importance of water being transparent

A

it allows light to pass through, which lets aquatic plants photosynthesise effectively

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18
Q

explain the importance of water having a high density

A

as water freezes, it becomes less dense, so therefore rises and insulates the aquatic environment underneath and prevents the entire water block from freezing

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19
Q

what elements do carbohydrates contain

A

oxygen, hydrogen, carbon

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20
Q

2 monosaccharides together produces…

A

1 disaccharide

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21
Q

general formula for monosaccharides

A

(CH2O)n

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22
Q

name of sugars with 3,5,6 carbons

A

triose, pentose, hexose

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23
Q

name the 2 isomers of glucose

A

alpha and beta glucose

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24
Q

definition of isomers

A

same chemical formula, different arrangement in space

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25
how many carbons does glucose contain - therefore what sugar is it
6, hexose sugar
26
name 2 functions of monosaccharides
source of energy in respiration, building blocks for larger molecules
27
what's the difference between alpha and beta glucose structurally
on alpha glucose, the hydrogen is above carbon 1, on beta glucose the hydrogen is below
28
what reaction joins 2 monosaccharides together and where do they join
condensation reaction (produces water), 1-4 glycosidic bonds
29
glucose + glucose =
maltose
30
glucose + galactose =
lactose
31
glucose + fructose =
sucrose
32
test for the presence of sugars
(benedict's solution) water bath at 70 degrees, if reducing sugar is present, solution will change colour from blue to green, yellow until a brick red precipitate forms
33
what's a reducing sugar
a sugar that donate an electron
34
give an example of an reducing sugar
glucose (ALL MONOSACCHARIDES)
35
what can the benedict's test be described as and why
qualitative because it doesn't tell you the actual concentration
36
what are polysaccharides formed from
very large numbers of monosaccharide monomers, linked by glycosidic bonds
37
why are starch and glycogen better than glucose
no osmotic effect (insoluble), cannot diffuse out of the cell, compact molecules, carry a lot of energy in their bonds
38
what glucose monomers is starch made of
alpha (amylose and amylopectin)
39
describe the structure of amylose and amylopectin
amylose: coiled, straight chains, 1-4 glycosidic bonds amylopectin: branched and coiled, 1-4 and 1-6 glycosidic bonds
40
food test for starch
add iodine, colour change from orange- brown to blue-black
41
what's the test for starch described as
qualitative
42
describe the structure of glycogen
alpha glucose, 1-4 and 1-6 glycosidic bonds, branched and coiled
43
what type of glucose are chitin and cellulose made of
beta glucose
44
describe the structure of cellulose
beta glucose, every other glucose is rotated 180 degrees relative to the next, 1-4 glycosidic bonds. microfibrils form between chains which make it strong
45
what are microfibrils
bonds formed between chains of monomers (e.g. in chitin and cellulose)
46
describe the structure of chitin
beta glucose, every other glucose is rotated 180 degrees relative to the next, 1-4 glycosidic bonds. microfibrils form between chains which make it strong. contains an ACETYL AMIDE GROUP
47
what does a triglyceride contain
glycerol and 3 fatty acids
48
what bond is formed in a triglyceride
ester bond (-COO)
49
are fatty acids hydrophobic or hydrophilic
hydrophobic
50
are phosphate heads hydrophobic or hydrophilic
hydrophilic
51
definition of hydrophilic
polar, a molecule that can interact with water
52
definition of hydrophobic
non-polar, a molecule that can't interact with water
53
what does a phospholipid contain
a phosphate head and two fatty acid tails
54
what are waxes and what's their role in animals and plants
lipids, waterproofing (insect exoskeleton in animals and waxy cuticle in plants)
55
name 4 roles of triglycerides
energy reserves (contain more energy than carbohydrates), thermal insulation (lipids insulate against heat loss when cold and heat gain when hot), protection (protecting against physical damage of delicate internal organs), producing metabolic water (water produced in chemical reactions)
56
saturated hydrocarbon chain
all C-C bonds
57
unsaturated hydrocarbon chain
C=C chain
58
polyunsaturated hydrocarbon chain
more than one C=C chain
59
what do unsaturated fats produce
HDLs (high density lipoproteins)
60
what do HDLs do
scavenge excess LDL and return them to the liver, which reduces the rate of atherosclerosis
61
what do saturated fats produce
LDLs (low density lipoproteins)
62
what do LDLs do
in excess, LDLs deliver fat to the endothelial cells of arteries, deposited as atheroma's (increases rate of atherosclerosis)
63
why are lipoproteins formed
soluble proteins combine with and transport fats or other lipids in the blood plasma (fats cannot dissolve in water so can't be transported in the plasma)
64
name 2 roles of phospholipids
structural role in biological membranes, electrical insulation (myelin sheath on axon on nerve cells)
65
name a role of waxes
waterproofing (reducing water loss)
66
test for fats/oils
(emulsion test) - add ethanol, shake, add water, shake, if present, the solution will produce a cloudy white emulsion
67
describe the impact of atheroma's on arteries
the inner wall of the artery has smooth endothelium lining, atheroma is deposited in the endothelium=reduces available volume for blood flow, the lumen of the artery is almost entirely blocked by the atheroma
68
what are the parts of an amino acid
amine group, variable (R) group, carboxyl group, H atom
69
at pH 7, an amino acid gains a H and becomes a positive ion, carboxyl group becomes negative (loses H), what is the new ion called?
zwitterion
70
what bond is formed between two amino acids
peptide bondw
71
amino acid + amino acid -->
dipeptide (peptide bond) + H20
72
primary structure of proteins
sequence of amino acids joined by peptide bonds
73
secondary structure of proteins
folding of the primary structure to form either an alpha helix or a beta pleated sheet, held together by hydrogen bonds
74
tertiary structure of proteins
further folding of the polypeptide chain to give a complex, specific 3D shape
75
quaternary structure of proteins
two or more polypeptide chains (some with prosthetic groups e.g. haem group in haemoglobin)
76
what bonds are present in both quaternary and tertiary structure of proteins
hydrogen, disulphide, ionic bonds and hydrophobic interactions
77
are fibrous proteins soluble or insoluble
insoluble
78
what functions do fibrous proteins have
structural function
79
give two examples of a fibrous protein
keratin and collagen
80
describe the structure of collagen
triple helix, every third amino acid is glycine (smallest amino acid so therefore it can be compact), cross link with other collagen molecules to form fibres = strong
81
compare the 3D shape of fibrous and globular proteins
fibrous=forms long fibres globular=rolls up into balls
82
are globular proteins soluble or insoluble
soluble
83
what function do globular proteins have
metabolic role
84
give an example of a globular protein
haemoglobin -- carries oxygen in red blood cells
85
compare the features of fibrous and globular proteins
fibrous=doesn't contain a prosthetic group globular=contains prosthetic group
86
describe the test for proteins
(biuret test) - add biuret reagent , if protein is present, the colour change is blue to purple/lilac
87
what can we use to find the absorbance of the purple biuret (protein test)
use a colorimeter -- semi-quantative (to make it quantative, use a biosensor)

Biology (20 decks)

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