Chapter 3 - Molecules Of Cells Flashcards
Life’s molecular diversity is based on what?
The properties of carbon
Almost all molecules a cell makes are composed of what?
Carbon bonded to:
- Other carbons
- Atoms of other elements
- most commonly bonds with H, O, and N
Carbon based molecules are called what?
Organic compounds
What is a carbon skeleton?
A chain of carbon atoms that can differ in length
What are 3 properties of carbon skeletons?
They can be:
- Straight
- Branched
- Arranged in rings
What are hydrocarbons?
Organic molecules consisting of only carbon and hydrogen
Why does CH4 not dissolve in water?
Because it is non-polar
Why is CH4 no polar?
Because the hydrogen atoms (H4) and carbon (C) share electrons equally creating non-polar covalent bonds
CH4 is commonly called _____.
Methane
What are a derivative of hydrocarbons?
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are composed of which elements?
C, H, O
What are the 3 classes of carbohydrates?
Monosaccharides (simple sugars)
Disaccharides (2 sugars)
Polysaccharides
What is the chemical formula for monosaccharides?
C6 H12 O6
What is the chemical structure of a disaccharide?
C12 H22 O11
Through what process are simple sugars combined?
A dehydration reaction,
Or Hydration synthesis (?)
What are isomers?
Compounds with the same chemical makeup, but different covalent arrangement of their atoms
What are geometric isomers?
They differ in arrangement around a double covalent bond (the double covalent bond remains the same)
What are structural isomers?
Different covalent arrangements
What is an Enantiomer?
Enantiomers differ in spatial arrangement around an asymmetric carbon, resulting in molecules that are mirror images
What are functional groups?
Commonly occurring groups of atoms with characteristic reactivity
What gives each molecule of a functional group it’s unique properties?
The number and arrangement of the functional groups
When is a disaccharide formed?
When a dehydration reaction joins two monosaccharides (monomers)
The covalent bond between two monosaccharides is called what?
Glycosidic linkage
What are polysaccharides?
Macromolecules, polymers of hundreds to thousands of monosaccharides linked together by dehydration reactions