Chapter 2 - Chemical Basis of Life Flashcards
di-
Two
glyc-
Sweet
lip-
Fat
-lyt
Dissolvable
mono-
One
poly-
Many
Sacchar-
Sugar
Syn-
With
Chemistry
The branch of science that considers the composition of matter and how this composition changes.
Matter
Anything that has weight. Includes all liquids, solids, and gases, both in our bodies and our surroundings.
Elements
Any of the fundamental chemical substances, each characterized by a distinct type of atom.
A few exist in pure form, but most combine with other elements.
Each element is represented by and 1 or 2 digit symbol.
Atoms
The smallest part of an element that has the properties of that element.
Chemical Bond
Attractive force holding atoms together.
Nucleus
- The dense core of an atom, composed of protons and usually neutrons.
- Cellular organelle enclosed by double-layered, porous membrane and containing DNA.
- Masses of interneuron cell bodies in the central nervous system.
Electrons
Small negatively charged particles that encircle the nucleus of an atom.
Proton
Positively charged particle in an atomic nucleus.
Neutrons
Electrically neutral particle in an atomic nucleus.
Atomic Number
Number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.
Atomic Weight
The combined number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.
Isotopes
Atom that has the same number of protons as other atoms of the same element, but a different number of neutrons in its nucleus. Thus, an atom of a different weight that other atoms of that element.
Radioactive
Property of some atoms that release energy or pieces of matter at a constant rate.
Unstable Isotopes.
Half-life
The time required for an isotope to lose one-half of its radioactivity.
Inert
Elements that do not react with other elements.
They have stable structure and are chemically inactive.
Ions
Particle that results when an atom or molecule becomes electrically charged.
(What an atom gains or loses electrons.)
Ionic Bond (Electrovalent Bond)
Chemical bond that results from the attraction of two oppositely charged ions.
They do not form discrete molecules, instead they form arrays.
Covalent Bond
Chemical bond formed by electrons sharing between atoms.
Polar
A molecule with equal numbers of protons and electrons, yet having a slightly positive region due to uneven distribution of those charged particles.
Hydrogen Bond
Weak bond between a hydrogen atom and an atom of oxygen or nitrogen, between molecules or between different regions of very large molecules.
Molecule
Particle composed of two or more bonded atoms.
Compound
Substance composed of two or more chemically bonded atoms of different elements.
Molecular Formula
Abbreviation for the number of atoms of each element in a compound.
Represents the numbers and types of atoms in a molecule.
Structural Formulas
Representation of the way atoms bond to form a molecule, using symbols for each element and lines to indicate chemical bonds.
Single line = single bond
Double line = double bond
Synthesis
Building large molecules from smaller ones.
Example: When two or more atoms bond to form a more complex structure.
Decomposition
Breakdown of molecules.
If the bonds within a reactant molecule break so that simpler molecules, atoms, or ions form.
Exchange reaction
Chemical reaction in which part of two kinds of molecules trade positions. (Trade positions as bonds are broken and new bonds are formed.)
Acid
Substance the ionizes in water to release hydrogen ions.
Ionize
To become converted into an ion.
Base
Substance that ionizes in water, releasing hydroxide ions (OH) or other ions that combine with hydrogen ions.
Salt
Compound composed of oppositely charged ions.
Compound produced by the reaction of an acid and a base.
Reversible Reaction
When the product of a reaction can change back to the reactant that originally underwent the reaction.
Symbolized with a double arrow.
Catalyst
Chemical that increases the rate of a chemical reaction , but is not permanently altered by the reaction.
Electrolyte
Substance that dissociates to release ions in water.
pH
A shorthand system that the acidic or base (alkaline) condition of a solution.
Values range from 0-14; the lower the pH numbers, the more acidic the solution.
Neutral
Neither acidic nor alkaline; pH of 7.0
Acidic
A solution with pH less than 7.0%.
Basic (Alkaline(
A solution with a pH greater than 7.0%.
Buffers
Substance that can combine with hydrogen ions when they are in excess, or release them when they are in short supply, thus resisting a change in pH.
Alternatively, substance that react with a strong acid or base to form a weaker acid or base and thus resisting a change in pH.
Organic
Chemicals that contain both carbon and hydrogen atoms.
Inorganic
Chemical substances that do NOT contain both carbon and hydrogen atoms.
Nonelectrolytes
Substances that do NOT release ions when dissolved in water.
Electrolytes
Substance that DOES release ions when dissolved in water.
Solvent
Liquid portion of a solution in which a solute is dissolved.
Substance that other substances dissolve in.
Solute
Chemical dissolved in a solution.
Carbohydrates
Organic compound consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 1:2:1 ration.
Provides much of the energy that cells require. They supply materials to build certain cell structures and often are stores as reserve energy supplies.
Sugars
Sweet tasting carbohydrate.
Among the smallest carbohydrates.
Simple Sugars (Monosaccharides)
Simple sugar such as glucose or fructose. Or galactose, as well a ribose and deoxyribose.
Saccharide
Sugar
Simple Sugar
Monosaccharides
Disaccharides
Sugar produced by the union of two monosaccharides.
Double sugars.
Polysaccharides
Carbohydrate composed of many joined monosaccharides.
Lipids
Group of organic compounds that include triglycerides, (Fats), steroids, and phospholipids.
Provide energy and cell structure.
Insoluble in water.
Triglycerides
Fat
Triglycerides
Lipid composed of three fatty acids and a glycerol molecule.
Fat.
Used primarily to store energy for cellular activities. Also provides thermal insulation beneath the skin.
Fatty Acids
Building block of a triglyceride (fat) molecule.
Glycerol
Organic compound that is a building block for triglyceride (fat) molecules.
Saturated
Fatty acid where each carbon atom is bound to as many hydrogen atoms as possible.
Unsaturated
Fatty acid molecules with double bonds.
Polyunsaturated
Fatty acid molecules with many double bonded carbon atoms.
Phospholipid
Similar to a triglyceride but only has 2 fatty acid chains and in place of a third is a portion that includes a phosphate group.
Used as structural components in cell membranes.
Steroids
Type of lipid formed of 4 complex rings of carbon and associated with hydrogen and oxygen atoms.
Widely distributed in the body and have a variety of functions.
Proteins
Many serve as structural materials, energy sources, or hormones.
Some combine with carbs and function as receptors on cell surfaces, allowing cells to respond to specific types of molecules.
Antibodies
Proteins that detect and destroy foreign substances in the body.
Amino Acids
Building blocks of protein.
Each amino acid has an “amino group” at one end and a “carboxyl group” at the other. They also have a “side chain” or “R group” thought of as the rest of the molecule and the composition of the R group distinguishes one type of amino acid from another.
20 different amino acids make up the proteins of most living organisms.
Conformation
3 dimensional form of a protein. The conformation of a protein determines its function.
Nucleic Acids
A molecule formed of a chain of nucleotides.
RNA or DNA.
They form genes and take part in protein synthesis.
Nucleotides
Building block of a nucleic acid molecule. Consisting of a sugar, a nitrogenous base, and a phosphate group.
RNA (Ribonucleic Acid)
Single stranded polymer of nucleotides in which each nucleotide includes the sugar rubose, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. (Adenine, uracil, guanine, or sytosine.)
Main location is in the cytoplasm.
mRNA carries transcribed DNA information to cytoplasm and acts as a template for synthesis of protein molecules. tRNA carries amino acids to mRNA.
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)
The genetic material.
A double stranded polymer of nucleotides, each consisting of a phosphate group, a nitrogenous base (Adenine, thymine, guanine, or cystonine) and the sugar deoxyribose.
Part of chromosomes, located in the nucleus.
Replicates prior to cell division; contains information for protein synthesis.
Inorganic Molecule - Water
H2O. Medium in which most chemical reactions occur.
Inorganic Molecule - Oxygen
O2. Used in energy releases from glucose molecules.
Inorganic Molecule - Carbon Dioxide
CO2. Waste product that results from metabolism.
Inorganic Ions - Bicarbonate Ions
HCO3. Helps maintain acid-base balance
Inorganic Ions - Calcium Ions
Ca+2. Necessary for bone tissue.
Inorganic Ions - Carbonate Ions
CO3/-2. Component of bone tissue.
Inorganic Ions - Chloride Ions
CI-. Major extracellular negatively charged ions
Inorganic Ions - Hydrogen Ions
H+. pH of the internal environment
Inorganic Ions - Magnesium Ions
Mg+2. Component of bone tissue.
Inorganic Ions - Phosphate Ions
PO4/-3. Required for synthesis of ATP, nucleic acids, and other vital substances.
Inorganic Ions - Potassium Ions
K+. Required for polarization of cell membranes
Inorganic Ions - Sodium Ions
Na+. Required for polarization of cell membranes.
Inorganic Ions - Sulfate Ions
SO4/-2. Helps maintain polarization of cell membranes.
Saturated Triglycerides
More abundant in fatty foods that are solids at room temperature.
Unsaturated Fats
In fatty foods that are liquid at room temperature.
Monosaturated Fats
Most heart-healthy fats.
Enzymes
Proteins that catalyze specific chemical reactions. Metabolism could not occur fast enough to support life without them.
Protein Primary Structure
The amino acid sequence, the order in which particular amino acids occur in the polypeptide chain.
Protein Secondary Structure
Results from the hydrogen bonds between amino acids that are close together in the polypeptide chain.
Protein Tertiary Structures
Introduces folds due to attraction involving amino acids far apart in the polypeptide chain.
Protein Quaternary Structure
Protein with more than one polypeptide chain.
Denatured
When hydrogen bonds in a protein break, the protein’s unique shape may be changed dramatically, or “denatured”.
Biomarker
A chemical in the body that indicates a disease process or exposure to a toxin.
