Ch:3 Food Flashcards
Nutrition
How an organism obtains and uses food
Biomolecules
chemicals that are made inside a living thing
Autotrophic
When an organism produces its own food
Heterotrophic
When an organism feeds off other organisms
Constituents of food
Carbohydrates, lipids, protein, vitamins and minerals
Nutrients
Chemical substances present in food
Non metals found in food
Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur
Elements present as dissolved salts
Sodium, magnesium, chlorine, potassium and calcium
Trace elements
Needed in the diet in small amounts
(Iron, copper and zinc)
Function of food
Energy, growth, repair and to make chemicals for metabolism
What two processes require food?
Metabolism and continuity of life
Metabolism
The sum of all the chemical reactions that occur in an organism
Continuity of life
The way in which new living things arise from living things of the same type
Main elements in carbs
Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
General formula for carbs
Cx(H2O)y
Elements in carbs that have a 2:1 ratio
Hydrogen and oxygen
3 groups of carbohydrates
Monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides
Monosaccharides
Carbs that are composed of one sugar unit
Disaccharides
Carbs that are composed of Two sugar units
Polysaccharides
Carbs that are composed of many sugar units
Examples of monosaccharides
Glucose - sweets, chocolates etc
Fructose - fruits
Examples of disaccharides
Sucrose - sugar - glucose + fructose
Maltose - germinating seeds - glucose + glucose
Lactose - milk - glucose + galactose
Examples of polysaccharides
Starch - energy store for plants
Glycogen - stored in liver and muscles
Cellulose - cell wall
Lipids vs oils
Lipids are solid at room temperature
Oils are liquid at room temperature
Elements in lipids
Hydrogen, carbon and oxygen
What are the components of lipids?
Fatty acids and glycerol
Types of lipids
Triglycerides and phospholipids
Triglycerides
Lipids that are composed of one glycerol molecule and three fatty acids
Functions of triglycerides
Helps storing energy, form of protection and insulation
Phospholipids
Lipids that are made of one glycerol molecule, two fatty acids and one phosphate molecule
Functions of phospholipids
Important for the structure of cell membranes - controls what enters and leaves the cell
Vitamin
An organic molecule needed by organisms in very small amounts
Water soluble vitamin
Vitamin c (ascorbic acid)
Common source of vitamin c
Citrus fruits