Chapter 2: Chemical Components of Cells Flashcards
How do cells exploit the laws of chemistry and physics to survive, thrive, and
reproduce?
How do different atoms interact to form molecules?
Forming a covalent or ionic bond to complete their outer shell to become more stable
What’s the unique property of a noncovalent ionic bond?
What are the four major carbon-based molecules found in all organisms?
the sugars, the fatty acids, the amino acids, and the nucleotides
What are sugar’s major properties and functions in living cells?
production and storage of energy, mechanical supports
What are fatty acids’ major properties and functions in living cells?
Long hydrocarbon chain that is hydrophobic and a carboxyl group (-cooh) ionized (-COOH^-) is hydrophilic
-concentrated food reserve in cells
-stored in the cytoplasm of many cells in the form of fat droplets composed of triacylglycerol molecules
What are nucleic acids’ major properties and functions (DNA and RNA) in living cells?
What are amino acids’ major properties and functions in living cells?
amino(-H2N) and carboxyl (-COOH) group attached to a-carbon atom; building block of proteins
How are different macromolecules built-in cells?
What are the differences between covalent and noncovalent bonds?
covalent bond
sharing electrons
ionic bond
transferring an electron, both atoms them become electrically charged to become an ion
polar covalent bonds
electrons shared unequally towards an atom that is negatively charged
Polar bonds
attract negative or positive charges; usually are Hydrophilic
ex. sugars, DNA, RNA, and a majority of proteins.
Hydrophobic
(“water-fearing”) molecules, by contrast, are uncharged and form few or no hydrogen bonds, and they do not dissolve in water.
ex . nonpolar molecules
Condensation reaction
-a covalent bond between to molecules as water is expelled; A bond is formed between an –OH group on one sugar and an –OH group on another
-condensation reactions, which synthesize larger molecules from smaller subunits, are energetically unfavorable
Hydrolysis reaction
cleavage of a covalent bond ; -H being added to the -OH bond; reverse reaction of condensation
-energetically favorable, breaks down larger molecules into smaller subunits
Lipids
Insoluble in water, dissolve in non-polar solvents
Lipid bilayer
encloses all cells and surround internal organelles, composed of phospholipids
Proteins and their function
macromolecule built from amino acids, provides cells with their shape and structure and performs most of their activities
