Chapter 3; Definition Questions Flashcards
Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life
Any of a large class of chemical compounds in which one or more atoms of carbon are covalently linked to atoms of other elements.
Organic Compound
A chemical compound that lacks carbon-hydrogen bonds.
Inorganic Compound
A very large molecule important to biological processes, such as a protein or nucleic acid.
Macromolecules
Is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon.
Hydrocarbon
Molecules or polyatomic ions with identical molecular formula (Same number of atoms of each element).
Isomer
A substituents or moiety in a molecule that causes the molecules characteristic chemical reactions.
Functional Group
Any of a class of natural or synthetic substances composed of very large molecules, called macromolecules, which are multiples of simpler chemical units called monomers.
Polymer
A molecule that can react together with other monomer molecules to form a larger polymer chain or 3-D network in a process called polymerization.
Monomer
Proteins that act as a biological catalyst by accelerating chemical reactions.
Enzymes
A chemical reaction that involves the loss of water from the reacting molecular or ion.
Dehydration Reaction
Any chemical reaction in which a molecule of water breaks one or more chemical bonds.
Hydrolysis
A biomolecule consisting of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms, usually with hydrogen-oxygen atom ratio of 2:1.
Carbohydrate
The simplest (one) carbohydrates.
Monosaccharide
The sugar formed when two monosaccharides are joined by glycosidic linkage.
Disaccharide
The most abundant carbohydrates found in food.
Polysaccharide
A complex carbohydrate that is a natural component of many plants.
Starch
The stored form of glucose that’s made-up of many connected glucose molecules.
Glycogen
A molecule, consisting of hundreds- and sometimes even thousands- of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms.
Cellulose
A tough semitransparent polysaccharide (sugar molecule) that is a key component of the exoskeletons of arthropods, such as crustaceans and insects, and the cell walls of some fungi and algal.
Chitin
Fatty, waxy or oily compounds that are a key structural component of living cells.
Lipid
The building blocks of the fat in our bodies and in the food we eat.
Fatty acid
A form of body tissue on animals.
Fat
A type of fat that is solid at room temperature and comes from animal products and tropical oils.
Saturated fatty acid
One or more double bonds between carbon atoms.
Unsaturated fatty acid
Compounds lipids, consisting of phosphoric acids, nitrogen base, alcohol and fatty acids.
Phospholipids
An organic compound with four fused rings arranged in a specific molecular configuration.
Steroid
The principal sterol of all higher animals, distributed in body tissues, especially the brain and spinal cord, and in animal fats and oils.
Cholesterol
They are one of the building blocks of body tissue and can also serve as a fuel source.
Protein
Molecules that combine to form proteins.
Amino acid
Short chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds.
Polypeptide
Are large biomolecules that are crucial in all cells and viruses.
Nucleic acid
A molecule that is the fundamental building block of DNA and RNA, the nucleic acids that carry genetic information in cells.
Nucleotide
A molecule that contains the genetic information that helps organisms grow, develop and pass on their traits to future generations.
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)
A polymeric molecule that is essential for most biological functions. To create proteins via translation.
Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)
Arrangement of two parallel structures in opposite orientations.
Antiparallel
