cc1 - biological compounds Flashcards
four key inorganic ions in living organisms
magnesium ions
iron ions
calcium ions
phosphate ions
role of magnesium in plants
used to produce chlorophyll
role of iron in animals
found in haemoglobin + involved in transport of oxygen
role of phosphate in living organisms
produces ADP + ATP
role of calcium in living organisms
strengthens tissues like bones and teeth in animals + cell walls in plants
why is water a polar molecule
O is more electronegative than H
O attracts electron density in covalent bond more strongly
h bonding between water molecules
weak intermolecular forces of attraction form between lone pair on a O and a H on an adjacent molecule
metabolite
molecule formed or used in metabolic reactions
role of water as a metoblite
water is reactant in photosynthesis + hydrolysis reactions
water is product in aerobic respiration + condensation reactions
why is waters high specific heat capacity important for organisms
water acts as a temp buffer, enabling endotherms to resist fluctuations in core temp+ to maintain optimum enzyme activity
why is waters high latent heat of vaporisation important for organsims
when water evaporates, it has a cooling effect
important in homeostasis; organisms can lose heat through sweating + panting
why is water an important solvent for organisms
water is polar universal solvent
enables chem reactions to take place in cells, transport of materials in plasma, + removal of metabolic waste
why does water have high surface tension
due to ordered arrangement + cohesion of molecules at surface of water
why is high surface tension of water important for organsims
enables transport of water + nutrients through plant stems and small blood vessels in body
allows small insects to ‘walk’ on water
monosaccharide
simple sugar
general formula - Cn(H20)n
examples of monosaccharides
ribose
deoxyribose
alpha + beta glucose
fructose
galactose
bond between two monosaccharides
glycosidic bond
disaccharide
molecule formed by condensation of 2 monosaccharides, forming glycosidic bond
formula - C12H22O11
examples of disaccharides + their monosaccharide constituents
sucrose (glucose-fructose)
maltose (a-glucose-a-glucose)
lactose (glucose-galactose(
polysaccharide
polymer of monosaccharides
formed by many condensation reactions
examples of polysaccharides
starch
glycogen
cellulose
chitin