Chapter 2 - The Chemistry of Life Flashcards

0
Q

Which 6 elements account for 98.5% of body’s weight?

A
O- Oxygen
C- Carbon
H- Hydrogen
N- Nitrogen
Ca- Calcium
P- Phosphorus
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1
Q

What is a chemical element?

A

The simplest form of matter to have unique chemical properties

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2
Q

Which 6 elements account or 0.8% of body’s weight?

A
S- Sulfur
K- Potassium
Na- Sodium
Cl- Chlorine
Mg- Magnesium
Fe- Iron
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3
Q

What are the remaining trace elements (12)?

A
Cr- Chromium
Co- Cobalt
Cu- Copper
F- Fluorine
I- Iodine
Mn- Manganese
Mo- Molybdenum
Si- Silicon
Sn- Tin
V- Vanadium
Zn- Zinc
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4
Q

What are minerals?

A

Inorganic elements extracted from the soil of plants

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5
Q

Particle so small that nothing can cut it?

A

Atom

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6
Q

The nucleus of an atom is composed of?

A

Protons and neutrons

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7
Q

Has a single positive charge

A

Proton

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8
Q

Has no charge

A

Neutron

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9
Q

Has a single negative charge

A

Electron

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10
Q

Around the nucleus are?

A

One or more concentric clouds of electrons

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11
Q

Electrons determine?

A

The chemical properties of an atom

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12
Q

The number of electrons equals?

A

The number of protons

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13
Q

What determines the bonding of an atom?

A

The electrons in the outermost shell when electrons swarm the nucleus in electron shells (energy levels)

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14
Q

What is an isotope?

A

Elements which differ in number of neutrons

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15
Q

What are radioisotopes?

A

Isotopes that are unstable and decay (breakdown) to more stable isotopes by giving off radiation

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16
Q

What is ionizing radiation?

A

High-energy radiation that destroys molecules and produces dangerous free radicals and ions in human tissues

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17
Q

What are ions?

A

Charged particles with unequal numbers of protons and electrons

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18
Q

Elements with 1-3 electrons in their outer shell tend to do what?

A

Give up electrons

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19
Q

Elements with 4-7 electrons in their outer shell tend to do what?

A

Gain more electrons

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20
Q

What are anions?

A

Particles that gain electrons and acquire a negative charge

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21
Q

What are cations?

A

Particles that lose electrons and acquire a positive charge

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22
Q

Ions with opposite charges are?

A

Attracted to each other and tend to follow each other through the body

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23
Q

What are electrolytes?

A

Compounds that ionize in water and form solutions capable of conducting electricity

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24
Q

What are electrolytes important for?

A

Their chemical reactivity, osmotic effects, and electrical effects

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25
Q

What are free radicals?

A

Chemical particles with an odd number of electrons

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26
Q

How are free radicals produced?

A

By normal metabolic reactions and combine with molecules which converts them into free radicals

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27
Q

What are chemical bonds?

A

Forces that hold a molecule together and attract molecules to one another

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28
Q

What are the different types of chemical bonds?

A

Ionic bonds
Covalent bonds
Hydrogen bonds
Van der Waals forces

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29
Q

What is an ionic bond?

A

A weak attraction of a cation to an anion that easily dissociates in the presence of something more attractive

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30
Q

What is a covalent bond?

A

An attraction between atoms formed by the sharing of electrons

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31
Q

What are the different types of covalent bonds?

A

Single Covalent Bond- sharing of a single pair of electrons.

Double Covalent Bond- sharing of two pairs of electrons.

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32
Q

What is a hydrogen bond?

A

A weak attraction between hydrogen atom in a molecule and an oxygen or nitrogen in another

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33
Q

What are Van der Waals forces?

A

Weak, brief attractions between neutral atoms

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34
Q

Most mixtures in our bodies are chemicals dissolved or suspended in?

A

H2O

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35
Q

What is solvency?

A

The ability to dissolve other chemicals

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36
Q

What are the types of solvency?

A

Hydrophilic- substances that dissolve in water.

Hydrophobic- substances that do not dissolve in water.

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37
Q

What is adhesion?

A

The tendency of one substance to cling to another

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38
Q

What is cohesion?

A

The tendency of molecules of the same substance to cling to each other

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39
Q

What is surface tension?

A

A force that holds water molecules together so that they form an elastic layer

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40
Q

What happens during chemical reactivity?

A

Water participates in chemical reactions by ionizing other chemicals

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41
Q

What happens during thermal stability?

A

Water has a high heat capacity and thus can absorb heat without changing temperature much

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42
Q

What is a solution?

A

Particles (solute) under 1 nm mixed with a liquid (solvent).

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43
Q

Identities of a solution

A

a) Particles will pass through most selectively permeable membrane.
b) Solution does not separate when allowed to stand.

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44
Q

What is a colloid?

A

Particles 1 to 100 nm mixed with a liquid

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45
Q

Identity of a colloid

A

Particles this large scatter light, so colloids are usually cloudy

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46
Q

What is suspension?

A

Particles larger than 100 nm mixed with a liquid

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47
Q

Identities of a suspension

A

a) Particles will not pass through membranes.

b) Particles separate from liquid on standing.

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48
Q

What are the Measures of Concentration of Solutions?

A

Weight per volume
Percentages
Molarity

49
Q

What is an acid?

A

A proton (H+) donor

50
Q

What is a base?

A

A proton acceptor or OH- donor

51
Q

What is pH?

A

A measure derived from the molarity of H+ (ph= -log [H+])

52
Q

A pH of 7.0 is?

A

Neutral solution

53
Q

A pH of below 7.0 is?

A

Acidic solution

54
Q

A pH of above 7.0 is?

A

Basic (alkaline) solution

55
Q

What is energy?

A

The capacity to do work

56
Q

What are the different types of energy?

A

a) Potential Energy- energy contained in an object because of its position or internal state but it is not doing work at the time.
b) Kinetic Energy- energy of motion, energy that is doing work.

57
Q

What is chemical energy?

A

Potential energy stored in the bonds of molecules

58
Q

What is a chemical reaction?

A

A process in which a bond is formed or broken

59
Q

What is a decomposition reaction?

A

When a large molecule breaks down into smaller ones

60
Q

What are the different types of Reactions?

A

Chemical Reaction
Decomposition Reaction
Synthesis Reaction
Exchange Reaction

61
Q

What is a synthesis reaction?

A

When small molecules combine to form a larger one

62
Q

What is an exchange reaction?

A

When two molecules exchange atoms or groups of atoms

63
Q

Metabolism

A

All chemical reactions in the body

64
Q

Catabolism

A

Energy-releasing decomposition reactions

65
Q

Anabolism

A

Energy-storing synthesis reactions that require energy input

66
Q

What is carbon?

A

A versatile atom that serves as basis of a variety of structures.

a) Has 4 valence electrons.
b) Can bond with other carbon to form long chains, branched molecules and rings.
c) Commonly bonds with H, O, N, and S.

67
Q

What are functional groups?

A

Small clusters of atoms, attached to a carbon backbone, which determine the properties of an organic molecule

68
Q

Different types of functional groups?

A
Hydroxyl - OH
Methyl - CH3
Carboxyl - COOH
Amino - NH2
Phosphate - H2PO4
69
Q

What are monomers?

A

Subunits

70
Q

What are polymers?

A

Molecules made of a repetitive series of identical or similar subunits

71
Q

What is dehydration synthesis?

A

-OH group is removed from from a monomer and a -H from another, producing H2O and forming covalent bond between them

72
Q

What is hydrolysis?

A

When water ionizes to OH- and H+, covalent bond is broken between monomers with OH- added to one monomer and H+ added to another

73
Q

What is a carbohydrate?

A

A hydrophilic organic molecule with the general formula (CH2O)n, where n represents the number of carbon atoms

74
Q

Three primary types of carbohydrates?

A

Glucose
Fructose
Galactose

75
Q

What is glucose?

A

The “blood sugar” that provides energy for most cells

76
Q

What are disaccharides?

A

Sugars composed of two monosaccharides, important ones are sucrose, lactose, and maltose

77
Q

What are oligosaccharides?

A

Short chains of three or more monosaccharides

78
Q

What are polysaccharides?

A

Long chains of monosaccharides

79
Q

Different types of polysaccharides?

A

a) Glycogen - energy-storage molecule made by cells of the liver, muscles, brain, uterus, and vagina.
b) Starch - energy-storage molecule of plants that is digestible by humans.
c) Cellulose - molecule that gives strength to the cell walls of plants, not digestible by humans but is important as dietary fiber.

80
Q

What are the functions of carbohydrates?

A

a) A source of energy that can be quickly mobilized.
b) Carbs. are converted to glucose, which is oxidized to make ATP.
c) Glycolipids
d) Glycoproteins
e) Proteoglycans

81
Q

Function of glycolipids?

A

Component of cell surface coat

82
Q

Function of glycoproteins?

A

Component of cell surface coat and mucus

83
Q

Function of proteoglycans?

A

Cell adhesion, lubrication, and filler of some tissues

84
Q

What is a lipids?

A

A hydrophobic organic molecule with a high ratio of H to O

85
Q

What is a fatty acid?

A

A chain of carbon atoms with a -COOH at one end and -CH3 on the other

86
Q

What are different types of fatty acids?

A

a) Saturated Fatty Acid - has as much hydrogen as it can hold.
b) Unsaturated Fatty Acid - contains some double bonds so hydrogen could be added to the molecule.

87
Q

What is a triglyceride?

A

A molecule consisting of three fatty acids bonded to glycerol

88
Q

What are different types of triglycerides?

A

a) Oils - triglycerides that are liquid at room temperature.
b) Saturated Fats - triglycerides that are solid at room or body temperature.
c) Adipose Tissue - used for energy storage, insulation and cushions organs.

89
Q

What are phospholipids?

A

A molecule consisting of three fatty acids and one fatty acid is replaced by a phosphate group

90
Q

Identities of phospholipids

A

a) The fatty acids are hydrophobic, but the phosphate is hydrophilic.
b) Phospholipids serve as the foundation of cell membranes.

91
Q

What are eicosanoids?

A

20-carbon compounds derived from a fatty acid

92
Q

Identity of eicosanoids

A

Function as hormone-like chemical signals between cells

93
Q

What is are the functions of prostaglandins?

A

They a variety of signaling roles in inflammation, blood clotting, hormone action, labor contractions, etc.

94
Q

What is cholesterol?

A

A lipid with carbons arranged in four rings.

a) The “parent” from which steroids are formed.
b) A component of cell membranes and is required for nervous system functions.

95
Q

What is protein?

A

A polymer of amino acids.

a) A polypeptide of 50 amino acids or more.
b) Have complex structures where a change in their conformation can destroy the function.

96
Q

What is an amino acid?

A

An amino acid has a central carbon atom with an amino group, a carboxyl group and a functional or radical group

97
Q

What is a peptide?

A

A molecule composed of two or more amino acids with an amino group bound to a carboxyl group of the next

98
Q

What is an oligopeptide?

A

A chain of fewer than 15 amino acids

99
Q

What is a polypeptide?

A

A chain of more than 15 amino acids

100
Q

What is the primary structure of protein?

A

The protein’s sequence of amino acids, which is encoded in the genes

101
Q

What is the secondary structure of protein?

A

Coiled or folded shape held together by H bonds between C=O group and N-H group some distance away

102
Q

What is the tertiary structure of protein?

A

Further bending and folding of proteins unto various globular and fibrous shapes

103
Q

What is the quaternary structure of protein?

A

Association of two or more polypeptide chains by non-covalent forces

104
Q

What is an important property of protein?

A

Their ability to change conformation

105
Q

What are the functions of protein?

A
Structure
Communication
Membrane transport
Catalysis
Recognition and protection
Movement
Cell adhesion
Enzymes
106
Q

What do enzymes do?

A

a) Enable reactions to occur rapidly at normal body temperatures.
b) Lower the activation energy and release energy in small steps

107
Q

Enzyme action

A

a) A substrate molecule approaches the active site of the enzyme.
b) The substrate binds to the enzyme to form a complex.
c) The enzyme breaks bonds between 2 molecules or brings 2 molecules together and makes them react with each other.
d) The products are released.

108
Q

What happens if there is a change in shape in an enzyme?

A

Change in shape in an enzyme alters or destroys its ability to bind to its substrate

109
Q

What is a cofactor?

A

Nonprotein partner required by enzymes

110
Q

What is a coenzyme?

A

Organic cofactors that accept electrons from an enzyme and transfer them to another enzyme

111
Q

What are metabolic pathways?

A

Chains of reactions with each step catalyzed by a different enzyme

112
Q

What are nucleotides?

A

Organic compounds with nitrogenous base, a monosaccharide, and one or more phosphate groups

113
Q

What is Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)?

A

The body’s most important energy-transfer molecule which briefly stores energy and releases it for physiological work

114
Q

What is phosphorylation?

A

The Pi released from ATP that are added to enzymes or other molecules to activate them

115
Q

What is Guanosine Triphosphate (GTP)?

A

Nucleotide also involved in energy transfers

116
Q

What is cAMP?

A

A nucleotide formed by the removal of two Pi groups from ATP, and acts as a “second messenger”

117
Q

What are nucleic acids?

A

Polymers of nucleotides

118
Q

What is Deoxyribonucleic Acid?

A

Polymers of nucleotides that constitute our genes

119
Q

What is Ribonucleic Acid?

A

Polymers of nucleotides that carry out the DNA instructions and synthesize the proteins