Chapter 2 - Chemical Components of Cells and Macromolecules Flashcards
What is the importance of Carbon?
Backbone of biomolecules.
What is the importance of Water?
Solvent of living systems.
What is the importance of synthesis by polymerization of small molecules?
Many biomolecules are polymers.
Importance of self-assembly?
Spontaneous formation of structural organization.
Importance of energy?
Biosynthesis of macromolecular polymers requires the input of energy.
Protons
Positively charged
Neutrons
Electrically neutral
Electrons
Negatively charged
How do you determine the atomic number?
By the number of electrons or the number of protons in each atom.
How do you determine the atomic weight?
The number of protons plus the number of neutrons (2x number of protons)
What are the 4 atoms that constitute 96% of an organism’s weight?
Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, and Oxygen.
What is the valence of the atom?
The number of covalent bonds the atom can form.
How would you determine the strength of a covalent bond?
Inversely proportional to the atomic weights of the bonding elements.
What accounts for the abundance of C, H, N, and O in biological systems, which contribute to the diversity and stability of biological compounds?
The valence and low atomic weights of C, H, N, and O.
Valence of C, O, H, and N respectively.
4,2,1,3.
Most biomolecules have a backbone of covalently linked _____ atoms.
Carbon.
What other atoms does carbon bond with to form stable covalent bonds and to complete its octet?
C, O, H, N, and S.
Stereoisomers.
When bonded to four different atoms or groups.
What two ideas of carbon allow carbon to form a diversity of stable carbon containing molecules?
Tetravalence (the stable association with itself and other atoms) and its tetrahedral stereoisomeric nature.
What is the universal solvent in biological systems?
Water
What is the most abundant component of cells?
Water (75 to 85% by weight).
The polarity of water give rise to which two unique properties?
1) H-bonds lead to cohesion (forming).
2) Temperature stabilizing capacity (high heat capacity) - protect the cells from temperature fluctuations.
Water is an excellent solvent for which types of substances, and why?
Hydrophilic, because of its polar bonds.
Ionic substances (NaCl) dissolve in water because?
Water molecules are attracted to the positive sodium atom or negative charge of the chlorine atom of each ion.
Polar substances (urea) dissolve in water because?
Their molecules form hydrogen bonds with the surrounding water molecules.
Hydrophobic Interactions
Substances that contain a preponderance of nonpolar bonds which are usually insoluble in water.
Hydrocarbons are especially _____.
Hydrophobic.
Functional groups provide _____ and _____.
1) chemical reactivity
2) Water solubility
What are the building blocks of the cell?
Sugars, fatty acids, amino acids, and nucleotides.
The biochemical basis of cell biology is understood through the function of what?
Macromolecules.
What is the Principle of Self Assembly?
The information required to specify the folding of macromolecules and their interactions to form a more complicated structure with specific biological functions.
The principle of self assembly requires _____.
No need for further information or energy input.
What holds mature macromolecules together?
Noncovalent and covalent interactions.
Each macromolecule is a _____ formed from _____ linked together by _____.
1) polymer
2) small molecules
3) covalent bonds.
What determines the preferred conformation of a polymer chain?
Linear sequence of monomers.
Synthesis of polysaccharides, proteins, and nucleic acids require what?
The input of energy.
