Biological Molecules (definitions)

Question 1

atom

Answer 1

the smallest component of an element; made of protons, neutrons and electrons

Question 2

molecule

Answer 2

two or more atoms chemically bonded together

Question 3

element

Answer 3

substance that cannot chemically be broken down any further; defined by the number of protons

Question 4

compound

Answer 4

two or more elements chemically bonded together

Question 5

organic

Answer 5

chemical compounds containing carbon, except the carbon oxides

Question 6

inorganic

Answer 6

a compound of two or more elements other than carbon

Question 7

polarity

Answer 7

uneven distribution of charges within a compound

Question 8

hydrogen bond

Answer 8

weak bond where partially positively charged groups come close to partially negatively charged groups

Question 9

surface tension

Answer 9

the “skin” on the surface of water formed as a result of hydrogen bonding in water molecules pulling surface molecules down

Question 10

solvent

Answer 10

a liquid that dissolves solutes

Question 11

monomer

Answer 11

repeating unit

Question 12

polymer

Answer 12

a large molecule made of covalent bonded monomers

Question 13

condensation

Answer 13

chemical process by which molecules bond covalently by the removal of water

Question 14

hydrolysis

Answer 14

breaking down of large molecules into smaller molecules by addition of water

Question 15

monosaccharide

Answer 15

a simple sugar; monomer of polysaccharides

Question 16

polysaccharide

Answer 16

a polymer of many monosaccharides covalently bonded

Question 17

triose sugar

Answer 17

three carbon sugar

Question 17

disaccharide

Answer 17

two monosaccharides joined by a glycosidic bond

Question 18

pentose sugar

Answer 18

five carbon sugar

Question 19

hexose sugar

Answer 19

six carbon sugar

Question 20

structural isomerism

Answer 20

compounds with the same chemical formula but different atomic arrangement