Chapter 2 and Atlas 2: Chemistry of Life Flashcards

1
Q

What is an element?

A

Simplest form of matter to have chemical properties. Each identified by atomic number (number of protons in nucleus).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is an atom?

A

Nucleus composed of protons (single positive charge, P+) and neutrons (no charge, N0).
Around nucleus are electrons (single negative charge, E-) in electron shells (first, second, and third level energy). More energy electron has, farther away from nucleus.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is an isotope?

A

Same number protons, different number neutrons. Unstable isotopes are called radioisotopes, and process of decay is radioactivity.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is ionizing radiation?

A

Destroys molecules and produces dangerous free radicals and ions in human tissue.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Physical half-life vs Biological half-life

A

Physical: time required for 50% of atoms to decay to a more stable isotope.
Biological half life: time required for half of it to disappear from body.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is an ion?

A

charged particle with unequal number of protons and electrons. Consists of single atom with positive or negative charge, group of atoms, or a molecule.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is ionization?

A

The giving up of electrons to fill valence shell, forming ions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is an anion vs cation?

A

Anion: Particle that gains electrons acquires negative charge.
Cation: Particle that loses electrons acquires positive charge because of extra protons.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is an anion vs cation?

A

Anion: Particle that gains electrons acquires negative charge.
Cation: Particle that loses electrons acquires positive charge because of extra protons.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is an electrolyte?

A

Acids, bases, or salts that ionize in water and form solutions that conduct electricity.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is a free radical?

A

Unstable, highly reactive chemical particles with an odd number of electrons.
Added dot at the end of element represents extra electron.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is an antioxidant?

A

Chemical neutralizes free radicals.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is a molecule?

A

Chemical particle with two or more atoms united by chemical bond.
Molecules composed of two or more elements are called compounds. (CO2)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is an isomer?

A

Two molecules with the same molecular formulae but different arrangements of atoms.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is covalent bond?

A

Formed by the sharing of valence electrons. (H2)
Single covalent bond: sharing of single electron.
Double covalent bond: Sharing of two pairs of electrons. (0=C=0)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Polar vs Nonpolar Covalent bonds

A

Polar: two atoms share electrons unequally.

Non polar: Two atoms share electrons equally.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Hydrogen Bonds

A

Weak attraction between positive hydrogen atom and a negative oxygen/nitrogen atom.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Van der Waals Forces

A

Weak, brief attraction between neutral atoms. Important in protein folding, binding of proteins and lipids.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Water and its ability to support life

A

Most important, universal solvent, 50-75% of body weight, covalent bonds, polar.
Functions: Major component in cells, important solvent, route transport of waste, chemical reactions, lubrication, body temp.
Ability to support life: Solvency, Cohesion, Adhesion, Chemical Reactivity, Thermal Stability.

19
Q

What is solvency?

A

Ability to dissolve other chemicals. Water is universal solvent.
Hydrophilic: Substances that dissolve in water (eg. sugar)
Hydrophobic: Do not dissolve in water (fats)
To be soluble, molecule must be polarized or charged.
POLARS dissolve POLARS, NONPOLARS dissolve NONPOLARS

20
Q

What is adhesion vs cohesion?

A

Adhesion: tendency of substances clinging to another.
Cohesion: Molecules of same substance cling to eachother. (eg. surface tension)

21
Q

What is chemical reactivity of water?

A

Ability to participate in chemical reactions, such has hydrolysis or dehydration synthesis.

22
Q

What is Thermal Stability of water?

A

Helps stabilize internal temperature of body. Hydrogen bonds inhibit movement so water can absorb heat without changing temperature.

23
Q

What is a Solution?

A

Consists of particles of matter called solute (gas, solid, liquid) mixed with other substances.
Defined by:
Solute particles under one nm in size
Usually transparent, particles don’t scatter light
Solute particles can pass through most selective permeable membranes
Solute doesn’t separate from solvent.

24
Q

What is a colloid?

A
Mixture of protein and water. Can change from liquid to gel state. Defined by:
 1 to 100 nm in size
Particles scatter light, cloudy
Too large to pass though membrane
Small enough to remain mixed in solvent
25
Q

What is a suspension?

A
eg. blood cells in plasma
Emulsion: suspension of one liquid in another.
Defined by:
Particles over 100 nm
Cloudy and opaque
Too large to penetrate membranes
Too heavy, so suspensions separate.
26
Q

What is an acid?

A

An acid is any proton donor, a molecule that releases a proton in water.

27
Q

What is a base?

A

A base is a proton accepter, a molecule that accepts protons.

28
Q

pH Scale and Buffers

A

1-14. Below 7: acidic. 7: neutral. Above 7: Basic.
A change of one whole number represents a 10 fold change (x10)
Ex. Blood has pH of 7.35/7.45.
Buffers are chemicals that resist changes in pH.
Measured by concentration of hydrogen ions

29
Q

Energy

A

Energy is the potential to do work.
Potential Energy: stored energy.
Kinetic Energy: energy of motion,
Chemical Energy: potential energy stored in bonds of molecules.
Heat: Kinetic energy of molecular motion.
Electromagnetic Energy: Kinetic energy of packets of radiation.
Electrical Energy: potential and kinetic forms.
Free Energy: Potential energy in system to do useful work.

30
Q

What is a chemical reaction and types?

A

The process of a covalent or ionic bond being broken.
Decomposition: Large molecule breaks down into two smaller molecules (AB=A+B)
Synthesis: Two molecules combine to make one (A+B=AB)
Exchange Reactions: two molecules exchange atoms (AB+CD=AC+BC)
Equilibrium: ratio of products and reactants are stable.

31
Q

What increases reaction rates?

A

a. concentration
b. temperature
c. catalyst (temporarily bind to reactants)

32
Q

What is Catabolism?

A

A division of metabolism. Consists of energy releasing decomposition reactions.
Breaks down covalent bonds, produces smaller molecules from larger ones, and release energy.

33
Q

What is Anabolism?

A

Anabolism consists of energy-storing synthesis reactions. A division of metabolism.

34
Q

What is oxidization?

A

Any chemical reaction in which a molecule gives up electrons and releases energy.

35
Q

What is Reduction?

A

A chemical reaction in which a molecule gains electrons and energy.

36
Q

Polymer vs. Monomers

A

Monomer can be bonded to identical monomers to form a polymer (polymerization)

Polymers are molecules made of repetitive monomers.

37
Q

Carbohydrates:

A

Hydrophilic organic molecule with general formula (CH2O)n. n= number carbon atoms.
Monosaccharides: simple sugars. (glucose, galactose, fructose, isomers of eachother)
Disaccharides: sugars composed of two mono. (sucrose, lactose, maltose)
Oligosaccharides: 3 or more mono.
Polysaccharides: thousands of mono. (glycogen, starch, celluose)

38
Q

Lipids

A

hydrophobic organic molecule, composed of 1 carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
Fatty acid: chain of 4 to 24 carbons with a carboxyl and methyl group.
Saturated FA: has as much hydrogen as it can carry.
Unsaturated FA: some carbon atoms joined by double covalent bonds.

39
Q

Lipids pt 2:

A

Triglyceride: (aka neutral fats) molecule with 3 carbon alcohol called glycerol liked to 3 fatty acids.
Phospholipids: same set up as neutral fats except the phosphate group replaces 1 fatty acid group. (eg Lecithin) One head hydrophilic, other head hydrophobic (amphipathic).
Eicosanoids: 20 C compound from arachidonic acid. Hormone like signal between cells.
Steroid: Lipid with 17 C in 4 rings. Cholesterol is parent steroid.

40
Q

Proteins:

A

Protein is polymer of amino acids.
Amino acid: has central carbon with amino (-NH2) and carboxyl (-COOH) group.
Peptide: composed of two or more amino acids joined by peptide bonds (formed by dehydration synthesis.

41
Q

Protein Structure:

A

Primary Structure: Proteins sequence of amino acids.
Secondary Structure: Coiled or folded shape held together by hydrogen bonds.
Tertiary Structure: Globular or fibrous shapes.
Quaternary Structure: two or more polypeptide chains by noncovalent forces.

42
Q

Protein Functions:

A
Structure: (keratin in nails, hair, skin. Collagen in teeth and bones)
Communication: 
Membrane Transport
Recognition and Protection
Movement
Cell Adhesion
43
Q

What is an enzyme?

A

Proteins that function as biological catalysts.
Activation energy needed to cause reaction.
3 Steps of enzyme action:
1. substrate molecule approaches an active site.
2. substrate binds to active site, forming enzyme substrate complex.
3. Substrate form is changed by hydrolysis, released by enzyme.
Factors that change enzymes: temperature and pH

44
Q

Nucleotides:

A

An organic compund with 3 components: single or double carbon-nitrogen ring (nitrogenous base), monosaccharide, or 1 or more phosphate groups.

45
Q

ATP: Adenosine Triphosphate

A

Most important energy transfer molecule.

46
Q

Nucleic Acids:

A

Polymers of nucleotides. (DNA, RNA)