Chapter 2, Chemical basis for life Flashcards
3 subatomic particles
protons, neutrons, electrons
Adhesion in water molecules
The attraction between water molecules
Describe Carbohydrates
Consist of Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio.. Small in size, electrically neutral, shares electrons with other atoms (enables formation of long hydrocarbon chains or rings). Functional groups can attach to carbon rings or chains. Types- monosaccharide, disaccharide and polysaccharide
Not as important - Essential component in organic molecules.
Carbohydrates are used for?
Used for energy, storage of energy and cellular structures.
Cells use them for energy as well as structure materials
chemical bonding
The force by which atoms are bound in a molecule. The types of chemical bonding are covalent, ionic and hydrogen bonds
chemical symbol
Represents an element. For example H stands for Hydrogen
cholesterol
Found in every cell of our body. A steroid alcohol that is found in many fat based tissues throughout the body. Cholesterol can by synthesized in the body or obtained through diet.
Cohesion of water molecules results in
Results in high surface tension
Colloid
Heterogeneous containing larger sized solutes
Solutes do not precipitate out, but often reflect light
Colloids have the ability to transform from fluid to solid and back again. This is called sol-gel transformation.
compounds
A substance made up of two or more elements (think of a compound word)
Covalent Bonding
Macromolecules/Life molecules. Usually organic, sharing one or more pairs of atoms. Covalent bonds make organic molecules hold together. Often carbon molecules
Define chemical reaction
forming or breaking bonds. Requires input or release of energy. 3 types - synthesis, decomposition and exchange.
Define functional group
the reactive part of a molecule that determines the molecule’s chemical activity.
Describe Amino Acids
The amino acid contains a central carbon atom attached to a hydrogen atom (C-H), an amino group (H2N), a carboxyl group O=C-OH and a unique side chain R.
20 Different AA found in the body. They are the basic building blocks of peptides and proteins.
Describe ATP (formula)
Glucose (C6H12O6) burned in 02 gives us CO2 + H20 + 36 - 38 ATP. Occurs in the mitochondria
Describe lipids
Fatty and other oily substances. Made of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. They are all insoluble
Cells use them for energy storage, structural support, and signaling molecules
There are 4 types-
Neutral fats, Phospholipids, Steroids, Eicosanoids- mode up of 20 fatty acids in a ring structure
Describe proteins
Organic molecules composed of amino acids joined by peptide bonds. Contain Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. They are the most abundant molecule in the human body.
Form enzymes and hormones and control all metabolic and biochemical reactions and processes in cells (cell structure, regulating growth, transporting molecules, defending the body against invaders),
Describe the polar water molecule
In a water molecule, the oxygen atom and hydrogen atoms share electrons in covalent bonds, but the sharing is not equal. In the covalent bond between oxygen and hydrogen, the oxygen atom attracts electrons a bit more strongly than the hydrogen atoms. Water molecules attract one another based on the attraction between the positive end of one water molecule and the negative end of another.
Describe the structure of DNA
DNA molecules consist of two parallel strands of the nucleotides A, G, C, and T. The strands are connected by hydrogen bonds between the nitrogenous bases. Each nitrogenous base can hydrogen bond with only one other specific nitrogenous base. Adenine can bond only with thymine, and guanine can bond only with cytosine. The two strands of bonded nucleic acid twist around each other in a spiral called a double helix. The order of the nucleotides is unique to each individual and is carried in every cell of the individual.
Difference between organic and inorganic bonds
Organic compounds are molecules that contain hydrocarbon chains and groups (hydrogen and carbon) and usually are covalently bonded. They are large and complex and are essential components of all living things. Examples: proteins, carbs, triglycerides and nucleic acids
Inorganic molecules, on the other hand, rarely contain carbon and do not contain hydrogen-carbon. This micromolecules are often ionically bonded. Examples are water, salts, acids and bases
differences between mixtures and compounds
Compounds are homogenous, chemically bounded and separation is difficult.
Mixtures can be homogenous or heterogenous and components can be easily separated (filtration, evaporation centrifugation or straining)
Electrons
negatively charged particles, they are wavicles in constant motion around the nucleus
Elements that make up the body
In the body 96% is Nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, carbon. Minor elements are Na, Mg, K, Ca, P, S, Cl92 Naturally occurring elements in nature.
Less important- In the body 96% is Nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, carbon. Minor elements are Na, Mg, K, Ca, P, S, Cl
How does a nucleotide differ from an amino acid
Nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids such as DNA, but amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.
How does a weak acid act as a buffer
It helps the cell maintain a neutral pH by not allowing excessive hydrogen or hydroxyl ions to accumulate. In water, a weak acid will initially ionize into: (1) free hydrogen (H+) ions, (2) a weak base product, and (3) remaining intact weak acid molecules. The pH of the solution is not changed much because some of the chemical remains in acid form and some remains in the form of a weak base.
How does an ATP molecule supply a cell with energy
As a nutrient (for example, glucose) is catabolized, the energy created is stored in ATP molecules.
ATP stores this energy in the bonds between its phosphate groups. When these bonds are broken (catabolized/hydrolyzed), that energy is released from the ATP molecule. To use the energy stored in ATP, enzymes must move the terminal phosphate group to another molecule. The receiving molecule is then temporarily has energy to do some work.
During this process the ATP molecule loses a phosphate group and becomes ADP. Another phosphate group can also be used, resulting in the creation of a molecule of AMP. As more glucose and other nutrients are metabolized, phosphate groups are joined to AMP, creating a renewed source of ATP.
How does an enzyme work
Enzymes speed up or catalyze chemical reactions without being destroyed or altered. Enzymes are specific to the reaction they catalyze and the substrates they use
How does ATP differ from a nucleotide
ATP is an RNA nucleotide containing the nitrogen base adenine with three aditional phosphate groups attached.
How is an ion different from an atom
Atoms are neutral. They contain the same number of protons as electrons.
An ion is an electrically charged particle produced by either removing electrons from a neutral atom to yield a positive ion or adding electrons to a neutral atom to yield a negative ion.
How many nitrogenous bases are there. Discuss
There are five different nitrogenous bases: adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), uracil (U), and thymine (T). Adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine are found in DNA. Adenine, cytosine, guanine, and uracil are found in RNA.
Much less important -These five nitrogenous bases are further divided into two groups based on their molecular structure: purines and pyrimidines. Purines include adenine and guanine and have two rings in their molecular structure. Pyrimidines, which include thymine, cytosine, and uracil, are single-ringed molecules.
hydrophyllic
Chemicals/molecules that mix well or disolve in water
Ion
An electrically charged atom or molecule. It has gained or lost an electron Cations are positive (more protons than electrons) and Anions are negative (more electrons than protons).
Isotope
One or more atoms with a different number of neutrons than protons. Atomic number # protons) is different than their mass.
If it has eight neutrons they become radioactive isotope (Carbon 14)
Keytones
Produced by lipid metabolism. Too many can make you sick.
Not as important- Usually produced by AcetylCoA from fatty aids in the liver.
List the inorganic molecules important for life
Water, salts, and acids and bases
List the organic molecules important for life
Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids
Matter
Anything that occupies space and has mass, can often be identified with out senses, is not the same as weight, composed of one or more elements
molecules
A group of atoms (or sometimes a single atom) bonded together, the smallest unit of a compound that retains the chemical properties of that compound