Chapter 3; Molecules of Life Flashcards
Describe the two main things in cells
Water and carbon-based molecules are the two main things in cells.
Why is carbon special as a molecule?
Carbon’s ability to form the skeletons of large, complex, diverse molecules that are necessary for life’s functions.
What are organic compounds?
The study of carbon-based molecules.
Describe why carbon atoms are versatile as molecular ingredients.
A carbon atom has four electrons in the outer shell which holds a total of 8. It also shares four covalent bonds with other atoms. Carbon uses one or more of their bonds to construct an endless diversity of carbon skeletons.
Describe hydrocarbons and why they are important, especially for our bodies.
Hydrocarbons only contain carbon and hydrogen. The energy-rich parts of fat molecules have a hydrocarbon structure which is in our bodies.
What is the simplest hydrocarbon? Describe it and note where it appears in everyday life.
Methane is the simplest hydrocarbon. It is produced by prokaryotes that live in swamps and in the digestive tracts of grazing animals, for example COWS. Large hydrocarbons are the main molecules in the gasoline where we burn in cars.
Why is the shape of a molecule important?
Many vital processes within living organisms rely on the ability of molecules to recognize one another based on their shape.
The unique properties of an organic compound depend on two things…name them.
Carbon skeletons and functional groups.
What is this?
Methane, the simplest hydroocarbon.
Draw the structural formula and write the chemical equation of methane.
The chemical equation is CH4.
Define and describe functional groups
Functional groups are groups of atoms that usually participate in chemical reactions. Two examples of them are carboxyl and hydroxyl groups.
Give two examples of a functional groups. Include both their english names AND their chemical formulas.
Carboxyl and Hydroxyl. Hydroxyl: (-OH) Carboxyl: (-COOH)
What is the basic formula of organic molecules?
Carbon skeletons with functional groups.
Draw on paper an example of Carbon skeletons varying in length
ON PAPER
Draw on paper an example of Carbon skeletons having double bonds which vary in location
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Draw on paper an example of carbon skeletons being arranged in rings.
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Draw on paper an example of Carbon skeletons being branched and unbranched
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Name the three categories of biological molecules that are called macromolecules. Give an example of each.
Carbs, proteins, and nucleic acids. Stuff in french fries and bagels have carbs in it. Meats contain many proteins. DNA adn RNA are examples of nucleic acids.
What does “macro” in “macromolecules” mean?
Macro means BIG
Why can macromolecules be understood easily?
They are polymers which are large molecules made by stringing together many smaller molecules called monomers.
What are polymers?
They are polymers which are large molecules made by stringing together many smaller molecules called monomers.
What are monomers?
The many smaller molecules strung together.
Give an real-life analogy to help remember what a polymer is.
A pearl necklace. Stringing all the pearls togethrt to get them all together on one string.
Describe how cells link monomers together to form polymers. Explain the type of reaction and explain what is produced as a result of that type of reaction.
The reaction used to link cells together to form polymers is dehydration reaction. This reaction removes a molecule of water. For each monomer added to a chain, a water molecule is formed by the release of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
Why would organisms need not just to MAKE macromolecules but also to BREAK DOWN macromolecules? Give an example.
We have to get the monomers available to our cells. For example, when we eat food we must digest it to make the monomers available to our cells.
What process is used to break down polymers? Explain the two parts of the word’s name, describe how it works, and note what the reverse type of process is.
Hydrolysis is the process used to break down polymers. Lyse means to break and hydro means water. A process where you add water and dehydration reaction is the complete opposite of this type of reaction.
Give an example of a hydrolysis reaction.
An example is the breakdown of lactose by the enzyme lactase.
What kind of reaction is this? Explain it. (See the captions in Figure 3.4: (a))
It is a dehydration reaction because it is giving off the hydrogen molecule.
What kind of reaction is this? Explain it. (See the captions in Figure 3.4: (b))
It is a hydrolysis reaction because it is adding a water molecule.
When two molecules of glucose (C6H12O6) are joined together, what are the formulas of the two products? (Hint: No atoms are gained or lost)
Be sure you understand why. What kind of reaction is this?
C12H22O11+H2O
This is a hydrolysis reaction because a hydrogen molecule is being added.
What are the four categories of large biological molecules?
carbohydrates
lipids
proteins
nucleic acids
Carbohydrates can be….
I will give you the answer here:
Sugars and polymers of sugars
Give an example of small sugar molecules and an example of long sugar molecules
The small sugar molecules are stored in soft drinks and in long sugar moleciles are pasta or potatoes.
What function do carbohydrates serve for animals?
Carbs are a primary source for dietary energy.
What function do carbohydrates serve for plants?
Carbs serve as a builing material for much of the plant body.
What are monosaccharides? What is special about them? Give two examples of monosaccharides and where each of those two examples are found.
Monosacchiraides are simple sugars. They cannot be broken down by hydrolysis into smaller sugars.. They are found in glucose in sports drinks and they are found in fructose in fruits.
What is the molecular formula for glucose?
C6H12O6
What is the molecular formula for Fructose?
It has the same formula as glucose but it is arranged differently.
What are isomers? Give an example.
Glucose and fructose are examples of isomers. Ismomers are molecules that have the same molecular formula but different structures.
Sugars can be linear, but in water, what form do they often take?
Many monosaccharaides form rings when one part of the molecule forms a bond with another part of the molecule, as shown for glucose.
What role do monosaccharides play in cellular work?
Cells break down glucose molecules and extract their stored energy giving off carbon dioxide. <—– Car example
What do your cells do to glucose molecules, and what do they give off?
Cells break down glucose molecules and extract their stored energy giving off carbon dioxide. <—– Car example
Give an example of how aqueous glucose (that means glucose in water) is used. Why is it used for that purpose?
It is injected to the bloodstream of sick patients and provides an immediate energy source to tissues in need of repair.
What concept does this picture demonstrate?
answer: isomers. Glucose and Fructose have the same atoms and the same formula, but they are arranged differently.
What is a disaccharide? How is it constructed?
A disaccharide is a double sugar. It is constructed from two monosaccharides through a dehydration reaction.