Biological molecules Module 2 Flashcards
Note that water CAN pass through phospholipid membrane but water soluble molecules CAN’T
Functions of water inside and outside of cells?
Water is a reactant in many important chemical reactions It’s a solvent, so allows biological reactions to take place in solution Water transports substances, liquid and a solvent so very useful can transport substances such as glucose and oxygen Helps temperature control as has a high specific heat capacity and high latent heat of evaporation It’s a habitat`
Why is water a polar molecule and what does this allow it to do?
Oxygen has a higher electronegativity than hydrogen, so attracts the electrons more making the oxygen delta negative, and the hydrogen’s delta positive Hydrogen bonding, as the delta positve hydrogen’s are attracted to the delta negative electrons of other water molecules
How can hydrogen bonding give water a high specific heat capacity?
Specific heat capacity is the energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of substance by 1 degree Hydrogen bonds between water molecules can absorb a lot of energy, meaning water requires a lot of energy to heat up Meaning it has a very stable temperature
How do hydrogen bonds give water a high latent heat of evaportation?
Hydrogen bonds mean that it takes a lot of energy to break the intermolecular forces between water molecules, so a lot of energy used up when water evaporates Good for cooling organisms, as when sweat evaporates it cools the surface of the skin
What’s cohesion and why are water molecules very cohesive and what does this help them do?
Is the attraction water molecules of the same type Occurs in water molecules as they are polar Helps them flow so they are good for transporting substances
How does water’s polarity make it a good solvent?
It can dissolve salts as the delta positively charged hydrogen’s will surround the negatively charged ions, and the delta negative oxygens will surround the positively charged ions, seperating out the salt causing it to dissolve
Why is water less dense when it is a solid?
Water molecules are held further apart in ice than they are in liquid, because each water molecule forms 4 hydrogen bonds to other water molecules making a lattice shape This is why ice floats
Why is ice floating useful to living organisms?
Ice acts as an insulating layer on top of the water, so the water bellow doesn’t freeze killing the living organisms
Most carbohydrates are polymers, what’s a polymer?
A molecule made up of many similar, smaller monomers bonded together
Structure of glucose?
It’s a hexose ( 6 carbon) monosaccharide Alpha glucose: starting at top right then going clockwise C1 bonded to CH2OH O C2 bonded to H above and OH bellow C3 bonded to H above and OH bellow C4 bonded to OH above and H bellow C6 OH bellow and H above Beta: the same as alpha, except on C2 OH is above, and H is bellow
How is glucose’s structure related to it’s function?
It’s the main energy source in animals as it’s structure makes it soluble, so can be transported easily, and it’s chemical bonds contain a lot of energy
What’s ribose?
Monosaccharide with five carbon atoms so it’s a pentose sugar Structure starting from Top of pentagon: O C1 OH above and H bellow C2 H above and OH bellow C3 H above and OH bellow C4 H bellow and CH2OH above
What elements do carbohydrates consist of?
Carbon Oxygen Hydroged
How do 2 monosaccharides bond together?
Via a condensation reaction, a molecule of H2O is lost from both OH groups reacting, and they become binded together by an oxygen (glycosidic bond) forming a disaccarhide
What’s the reverse of a condensation reaction?
A hydrolysis reaction, water is removed to split a molecule
What does the disaccharide maltose consist of?
2 molecules of alpha glucose binded to each other via a glycosidic bond
What does the disaccharide sucrose consist of?
When alpha glucose and fructose join together via a glycosidic bond
What does the disaccharide Lactose consist of?
When Beta glucose is bonded to galactose
What’s a polysaccharide?
When more than 2 monosaccharides join together
What do plants store excess glucose as?
Starch, when a plant needs energy breaks it down into glucose
What does starch consist of?
A mixture of the 2 polysaccharides of alpha glucose amylose and amylopectin
Describe the structure of amylose?
A long unbranched chain of alpha glucose. The angles of glycosidic bonds give it a coiled structure Condense structure makes it good for storage as can fit more into a smaller space
Describe the structure of amylopectin?
A long branched chain of alpha glucose, it’s side chains allow the enzymes that break down the molecule to get at the molecule to break the glycosidic bonds. So glucose can be released quickly
How do animal cells store glucose?
Store it as glycogen, another polysaccharide of glucose
Structure of glycogen?
Polysaccharide of alpha glucose (used as storage if there’s excess) , similar to amylopectin, except that it has far more side branches coming off it, so energy can be released more readily, which is good for animals
Also soluble, so won’t affect water potential of cells
Why is it useful that starch is insoluble in water?
Means it doesn’t cause water to enter cells via osmosis, which would make them swell
Describe the structure and function of cellulose?
Long unbranched chains of beta glucose, the cellulose chains are linked by hydrogen bonds to form strong fibres called microfibrils The strong fibres provide strucutral support for the cell, eg. in plant walls
Explain the general structure of a triglyceride?
Glycerol bonded to 3 fatty acid chains Fatty acid chains are made of hydrocarbons (compounds that only contain hydrogen and carbon) The tails are hydrophobic, meaning the tails are insoluble in water
What elements do lipids contain?
Carbon, Oxygen and Hydrogen
How are triglycerides synthesised?
By the formation of an ester bond between each fatty acid and the glycerol molecule A condensation reaction occurs, between the OH group on the glycerol (prop-tri-ol) and the OH of the carboxylic group at the end of the hydrocarbon chain.
What’s the process of synthesising a triglyceride called?
Esterfication
What’s the type of reaction called which breaks down a triglyceride?
Hydrolysis
What’s a saturated fatty acid?
Hydrocarbon chain containing no double carbon carbon double bonds (saturated with hydrogen)