Chapter 3 Flashcards
What is a covalent bond?
When two non-metals cannot form a bond by transferring electrons from one to another. They share electrons to join atoms together. Called a covalent bond.
What are the functions of the useful biological ions?
Hydrogen ions- Catalysts, pH determination
Calcium ions- Nerve impulses, muscles, contractions
Sodium ions- Nerve impulses, kidney function
Potassium ions- Nerve impulses, stomata
Ammonium- To make nitrate ions
Nitrate- Amino acids and protein production
Hydrogen carbonate- Maintains blood pH
Chloride- Balance sodium and potassium ions in cells
Phosphate- Cell membranes
Nucleic acids and ATP formation
Bone formation
Hydroxide- Catalysts, pH determination
What elements are present in carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids?
Carbohydrates- carbon, hydrogen, oxygen
Lipids-carbon, hydrogen, oxygen
Proteins- carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur
Nucleic acids- carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus
What is a monomer?
A single unit
What is a polymer?
Long chain molecules made by linking of multiple individual monomers, in a repeating pattern
What are covalent bonding in polar molecules?
Shared electrons in a covalent bond aren’t always equal
Electrons may spend more time around one atom than the other
Makes one atom slightly negative and one slightly positive
This is called polar
What type of molecule is water?
Covalent bonds between O & H
Oxygen shares more electrons and therefore slightly more negative
Hydrogen more positive
Positive and negative regions- polar molecules
The polarity of water
Polar molecules interact with each other
Form bonds called hydrogen bonds
Hydrogen bonds – Weak interaction which break and reform between water molecules
However – many bonds = stable/unique characteristics
What is hydrogen bonding?
Weak electrostatic bond.
Each bond is fairly weak, but together an important force.
Causes water molecules to stick together, giving unusual properties.
Unusual property one- Water has a high boiling point
It has a high specific heat capacity and is transparent, takes more energy to heat up than land does.
Unusual property two -Water is less dense when it freezes
Therefore ice floats, provides a surface of ice which insulates the water below and allows habitat for organisms and nutrients to flow through
This is because as water freezes the hydrogen bonds push the H2O molecules farther apart from each other increasing the intermolecular space resulting in expansion.
Unusual property three- water molecules stick together
Water molecules are attracted to each other:
Cohesion
Water molecules are attracted to other surfaces:
Adhesion
Unusual property 4- water is a good solvent
Molecules are polar
This enables water molecules to attract to solute molecules
This is important because it becomes a medium for metabolic reactions
Allows ionic compounds to separate
Allows a transport system
Eg Blood, xylem, tissue fluid
Dilutes toxic substances
Allows organisms to absorb gases
What are carbohydrates?
They are respiratory substrates.
These are substances that are broken down during respiration to release energy
What is a monosaccharide?
Single sugar unit with the general formula (CH2O)n, where n can be 3–7. eg C6H12O6
Eg- glucose, galactose, fructose
6 carbon sugar- hexose
5 carbon sugar- pentose
What is a disaccharide?
Formed from two monosaccharides by glycosidic bonds
Eg- lactose, sucrose, maltose
What is a polysaccharide?
Long chain carbohydrate polymers
Eg- glycogen , cellulose , starch
What is glucose?
Polar
Soluble in water due to the hydrogen bonds that form between the hydroxyl groups and water molecules.
This means that glucose is dissolved in the cytosol of the cell.
The major energy source for most cells.
What is galactose?
Respiratory substrate
Bonds contain energy
Can be broken down by enzymes
Soluble (transport)
OH/H can form H bonds with water
What happened when a disaccharide breaks down to monosaccharides?
Hydrolysis
Water breaks glycosidic bonds
Catalysed by enzymes
Where is maltose found?
Maltose (disaccharide) is found in germinating seeds as more complex carbohydrates are broken down for energy
Where is lactose found?
Lactose is found in mammalian milk to provide energy for infant mammals
Galactose & Glucose
Where is sucrose found?
Sucrose is transported in the phloem to provide sugars to other parts of the plant
What do the following disaccharides breaks down to?
Lactose- alpha glucose + beta galactose
Maltose- alpha glucose + alpha glucose
Sucrose- alpha glucose + alpha fructose
Polysaccharides- starch
Many alpha glucose molecules can be joined by glycosidic bonds to form two slightly different polysaccharides known as starch.
Overall structure of starch:
- insoluble, branched, compact so ideal for their storage function- Insoluble means that it won’t affect the water potential
What is starch- amylose?
Long chain of a-glucose molecules joined by 1, 4 glycosidic bonds
Amylose coils into a helix shape that makes it more compact (angle of bonding)
Less soluble than glucose
What is starch amylopectin?
Long chain of a-glucose molecules joined by 1, 4 glycosidic bonds
Polysaccharides- glycogen
Storage molecules in animals and fungi
Many 1,4 and 1,6 glycosidic bonds
More branched than amylopectin
Glycogen
Storage molecule in animals and fungi
Has both 1-4 glycosidic bonds and 1-6 glycosidic bonds
Glycogen from more branches (every 8-12) than amylopectin which means it is more compact and ,less space needed for it to be stored
Branches mean that there are many free ends where glucose molecules can be added or removed.
Speeds up the process of storing or releasing glucose molecules required by cells.
Why do animals have glycogen but plants don’t?
Higher metabolic requirements
More mobile and have muscles
Nerves/organs