Chapter 1 Chemical Elements & Biological Compounds Flashcards
Define organic
Molecules that have a high proportion of carbon atoms.
Define inorganic
A molecule or ion that has no more than one carbon atom
Define macronutrients give an example
A chemical element required in large amounts for plant growth
E.G potassium, magnesium, calcium
Define micronutrients
A chemical element or substance required in trace amounts for the normal growth and development of living organisms
What are the functions of Nitrogen? (2)
Major component of amino acids
Essential for protein synthesis
How does nitrogen enter the food chain?
Enters food chain as nitrate ions through plant roots.
What is the function of magnesium?
Essential for tooth and bone structure
A cofactor for many enzymes
Essential for photosynthesis-part of chlorophyll molecule
What can happen to plants if they have a magnesium deficiency?
Chlorosis: growth becomes stunted,leaves become yellow and then die
What is the function of calcium?
Essential for middle lamella between plant cells and for strength in cell wall structure
Constituent of bone, enamel and shells
Activates ATPase during muscle contraction
Needed for blood clotting
What is the function of iron?
Element necessary for haem group in haemoglobin and myoglobin
Needed for cytochromes (electron carriers) in cell respiration
Needed for some enzymes
In humans what can be caused by the lack of iron?
Anaemia
What is the function of phosphorus?
Essential for the synthesis of nucleus acids
Essential component of bone and enamel
Essential component of phospholipids
What is the structure of water?
One atom of oxygen covalently bonded with two atoms of hydrogen
Water is a dipole, define dipole.
A polar molecule with a positive charge and a negative charge, separated by a very small distance
Where are the positive and negative charges in water?
The hydrogen’s are slightly positively charged and the oxygen is slightly negatively charged
Why is water a good solvent?
Due to it’s bipolar nature water allows salts dissolve through the attraction of opposite charges
Define specific heat capacity
The amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of a substance
Water has a high specific heat capacity, what does this allow it to be used for?
Medium to live in
Medium for chemical reactions to take place
Coolant
Temperature buffer
Define latent heat of vaporisation
This is the heat energy absorbed by liquid water to change into a gas
Water has a specific latent heat of vaporisation, how is this used in living organisms?
The heat energy can be removed from living organisms to cool and control body temperature through sweating, panting, etc…
Define adhesion
Forces of attraction between water molecules and other molecules
Define cohesion
Forces of attraction between water molecules. This creates surface tension.
Define carbohydrates
Hydrated carbon molecules
Define monosaccharides
An individual sugar molecule
What is the general formula for monosaccharides ?
(CH2O)n
How many carbon atoms does a triose sugar have?
3
How many carbon atoms does a pentose sugar have?
5
How many carbon atoms does a hexose sugar have?
6
What is an example of a hexose sugar?
Glucose
Define isomers
Molecules that have the same chemical formula but a different arrangement of atoms
What are the two isomers of glucose and what is the difference between them?
Alpha glucose and beta glucose
The positions of the hydrogen and hydroxyl group are different
Define disaccharide
Two monosaccharide units bonded together with a glycosidic bond by condensation reaction.
What is a condensation reaction?
A chemical process in which two molecules combine to form a more complex molecule, with the elimination of one water molecule
What is a glycosidic bond?
An oxygen bridge formed between two molecules
What monosaccharides is maltose made up of?
Glucose and glucose
Give an example of a biological role of maltose
Germinating seeds
What monosaccharides is sucrose made of?
Glucose and fructose
What is a biological role of sucrose?
Transport in phloem of flowering plants
What monosaccharides is lactose made of?
Glucose and galactose
What is a biological role of lactose?
In mammalian milk
