BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES (2.1.2) Flashcards
what is latent heat
heat energy needed to change a substance from one state to another , e.g from a liquid to a gas
define the term “polar molecule”
a molecule that has a slightly positive charge on one side and a slightly negative charge on the other
what do water molecules form with other water molecules due to its polarity?
hydrogen bonds
why does water have a high specific heat capacity?
- hydrogen bonds between H2O molecules can absorb a lot of energy
- results in a lot of energy needed to heat it up
- means that water doesn’t experience rapid temperature changes
what effect does waters high specific heat capacity have on its function?
- makes water a good habitat
- water doesn’t experience rapid temperature changes
- means temperature underwater is more stable than on land
why is water cohesive?
- due to waters polarity, molecules are attracted to one another and “stick” to each other
what’s effect does water’s cohesive nature have on its function?
- allows water to flow
- makes water a good transport medium
- helps water be transported up plant stems in transpiration stream
- produces surface tension for small organisms to walk on
why is water a good solvent?
- due to waters polarity, it can dissolve ionic substances
- waters δ+ side is attracted to the negative ion
- waters δ- side is attracted to the positive ion
- ions get surrounded by H2O molecules and dissolve
what affect does waters ability to be a good solvent have on its function?
- makes it a good reaction medium, since many substances in biological reactions are ionic
- makes it a good transport medium, as it can transport useful substances
- makes it a good habitat, as it contains useful ions
why does water have a high latent heat of evaporation?
- takes a high amount of energy to break hydrogen bonds between H2O molecules
- this means a lot of energy is needed to change water from a liquid to a gas
what affect does water having a high latent heat of evaporation have on its function?
- makes water a useful coolant
- used as a thermoregulatory system by organisms
- sweating/transpiring allows heat to be carried away by vapourised h2o molecules
why does water have a lower density when solid?
- h2o molecules are held further apart in ice than in liquid
- each molecule forms 4 hydrogen bonds with other h2o molecules to form a lattice shape
- allows ice to float on top of water
what affect does water having a lower density when solid have on its function?
- makes it a good habitat
- ice floats on top of water, forming an insulating layer on top of water
- liquid below and organisms within (e.g. fish) don’t freeze
what elements do carbohydrates contain?
- Carbon
- Hydrogen
- Oxygen
define and state 3 examples of a monosaccharide
a monomer
- alpha glucose
- beta glucose
- ribose
where is the hydroxyl (OH) group on α-glucose ?
- bonded to the bottom right of Carbon 1
H
/
C1
\
OH
where is the hydroxyl (OH) group on β-glucose?
- bonded to the top right of Carbon 1
OH
/
C1
\
H
state the formula of glucose
C6 H12 O6
what type of monosaccharide is glucose?
- a hexose monosaccharide
- has 6 carbons
- is a sugar
how is glucose’s structure related to = its function?
- it is soluble, so can be easily transported
- it’s chemical bonds contain energy, making it a good energy source
what is the chemical formula for Ribose?
- C5 H10 O5
structural formula of ribose
CH2OH O OH
| / \ /
C4 H H C1
/ \ / \ / \
H C3___C2 H
/ \
HO OH
what type of monosaccharide is ribose?
- a pentose monosaccharide
- has 5 carbons
- is a sugar
what is ribose’s function?
- is a the sugar component of RNA molecules
how are polysaccharides formed?
- by glycosidic bonds formed during condensation polymerisation
- H atom on one monosaccharide bonds to a OH group on another
- releases H2O, water molecule
H H H H
/ \ / \
C + C ➡️ C C + H2O
\ / \ /
OH HO O
what is excess glucose stored as in plants?
- starch