Chapter 1.1 - Chemistry in Living Systems Flashcards
What are the six elements that are the chemical foundations for the diversity of life?
Carbon, Hydrogen(underlying structures), Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sulfur, Oxygen
How many naturally occurring elements are there?
92
What is an isotope?
An atom of the same element that have a different number of neutrons.
What are radioisotopes?
Unstable isotopes that decay over time by emitting radiation.
How do doctors use radioisotopes?
They use it as a tool in a technique called radioisotopes tracing, and use PET scans to trace high energy and glucose usage in the body.
What is a molecule?
A substance composed of two or more non-metal atoms that covalently bonded.
What is an organic molecule?
It is a carbon containing molecule in which carbon atoms are nearly always bonded to each other and to hydrogen.
What is biochemistry?
It is a study of the activity and properties of biologically important molecules.
What is intramolecular?
It occurs between atoms within a molecule.
What are bonds formed within molecules?
Covalent bonds.
What is intermolecular?
It occurs between atoms of different molecules.
Is intermolecular or intramolecular stronger?
Intramolecular is stronger than intermolecular.
What is a hydrogen bond?
A weak association between an atom with partial negative charge and a hydrogen atom with partial positive charge.
What is hydrophobic?
It refers to non-polar molecules that do not have attractive interactions with water molecules.
What is hydrophilic?
Referring to polar molecules that have attractive interaction with water molecules.
What is an ion?
It is an atom or group of atoms that has gained or lost one or more electrons, giving it a positive or negative charge.
What is a functional group?
An atom or group of atoms attached to a molecule that gives the molecule particular chemical and physical properties.
Hydroxyl
OH
Carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, lipids
Carbonyl
O
||
C
carbohydrates, nucleic acids
Carboxyl
O
//
C
\
OH
proteins, lipids
Amino
H
/
N
\
H
proteins, nucleic acids
Sulfhydryl
S—H
proteins
Phosphate
O
|
O -- P -- O
||
O
nucleic acids
What is a molecular formula?
It shows the number of each type of atom in an element or a compound.
What is a structural formula?
It shows the different atoms of a molecule are bonded together.
