Biological Molecules - Biological Molecules: Key Terms

Question 1

Polar molecule

Answer 1

A molecule with an uneven distribution of charge, e.g. H2O.

Question 2

Polymerisation

Answer 2

The process by which many monomer sub-units are joined to form polymers.

Question 3

Condensation

Answer 3

Reactions in which a water molecule is removed when monomers join.

Question 4

Hydrolysis

Answer 4

When water molecules are added in the process of breaking bonds between molecules, e.g when breaking a polymer into monomers

Question 5

Monosaccharide

Answer 5

A single monomer of carbohydrate.

Question 6

Disaccharide

Answer 6

Carbohydrates that contain two monosaccharides joined together.

Question 7

Polysaccharide

Answer 7

Very large molecules that contain many monosaccharide.

Question 8

Glycosidic bond

Answer 8

The bond between two monosaccharides that forms in a condensation reaction.

Question 9

Saturated

Answer 9

A carbon chain that doesn’t contain any carbon-carbon double bonds.

Question 10

Mono-unsaturated

Answer 10

When there is a single carbon-carbon bond within the carbon chain.

Question 11

Poly-unsaturated

Answer 11

When there is more than one carbon-carbon double bond within the carbon chain.

Question 12

Peptide bond

Answer 12

The bond that links two amino acids together, between carbon and nitrogen.

Question 13

Polypeptide

Answer 13

A chain consisting of many amino acids joined by peptide bonds.

Question 14

Activation energy

Answer 14

The minimum amount of energy needed to activate a reaction.

Question 15

Active site

Answer 15

A specific region of an enzyme, which is functional., and has a specific shape due to the tertiary structure, where the substrate binds.

Question 16

Substrate

Answer 16

The molecule on which an enzyme acts.

Question 17

Enzyme-substrate complex

Answer 17

This forms because the substrate molecule is held within the active site by bonds that temporarily form between certain amino acids of the active site and groups on the substrate.

Question 18

Complementary

Answer 18

The way to describe the shapes/structures of a specific substrate and enzyme and how they fit together.

Question 19

Denaturation

Answer 19

A permanent change to the tertiary structure of the active site meaning that an enzyme can no longer function.

Question 20

Competitive inhibitors

Answer 20

Enzyme inhibitors which bind to the active site of the enzyme.

Question 21

Non-competitive inhibitors

Answer 21

Enzyme inhibitors which bind to the enzyme at a position other than the active site.