Carbon and Life Flashcards
Cohesion
a physical property of particles or molecules of the same substance sticking together and water is cohesive due to hydrogen-bonding between neighboring water molecules
specific heat.
able to absorb heat
(macromolecules)
carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids
anabolism
The general process of joining monomers to form a polymer
catabolism
a polymer can be broken down into its monomers
hydrolysis reaction
a type of catabolism whereby a polymer is broken down by the addition of water
monosaccharides
glucose (also known as dextrose), fructose, ribose, galactose, and ribulose
Saturated fats (Stearic acid)
do not have double bonds in their hydrocarbon chains and each carbon is bound to two other carbons and two hydrogens
Unsaturated fats (Oleic acid)
have double bonds along their lengths (monounsaturated = one double bond, polyunsaturated = more than one double bond)
Nitrogenous bases
Purines: Adenine, Guanine
Pyrimidines: Thymine, Cytosine, Uracil
Amino acid
The basic monomer of proteins with a general structure of an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a chemically variable “R” group covalently joined by a carbon. Typically, there are twenty different R-groups, resulting in twenty commonly seen amino acids.
Amphipathic
A property of being both hydrophobic and hydrophilic. An amphipathic molecule has one end with some charge character, and the other end lacking charge.
Cellulose
A type of carbohydrates used as structural molecules.
Chitin
A type of carbohydrates used for structural purposes in some animals and fungi.
Condensation synthesis (dehydration synthesis)
The process in which a hydroxide (OH) is removed from one molecule and a hydrogen (H) is removed from the adjacent combining molecule.
Covalent bond
Bonds that involve the sharing of electrons
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
A type of nucleic acids comprised of DNA nucleotides that have deoxyribose as their sugar and one nitrogenous base (adenine, guanine, cytosine, or thymine). DNA usually exists as paired strands, with the two sides held together by hydrogen bonds between the nitrogenous bases (cytosine binds to guanine, and thymine to adenine).
Electronegative
Electronegative elements tend to pull electrons close to them when forming covalent bonds with other elements.
Enzyme
A type of proteins that accelerate chemical reactions.
Glycogen
A type of a polymer of glucose monomers used by animals to store surplus sugar in their livers.
Heat of vaporization
The specific amount of heat or energy required to vaporize a liquid at a constant temperature.
Hydrogen bond
The electrostatic attraction formed between the partial positive charge of a hydrogen (due to it being covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom such as nitrogen, oxygen, or fluorine) and the partial negative charge of another highly electronegative atom nearby.
Inorganic compound
Compound that does not contain carbon
Lipid
An assortment of diverse non-polymer molecules that share a common trait of being hydrophobic. Their main biological functions include energy storage (e.g., fats), main structural components of cell membranes (e.g., phospholipids and cholesterol), and hormones and other cell signaling molecules (e.g., estrogen and testosterone).
