Chapter 3 (Unit 1) Flashcards
What did chemists in the 19th century think about the molecules of cells?
That they must contain some vital force that helps the organism survive
What is organic chemistry?
Chemistry of organisms
What is inorganic chemistry?
The chemistry of nonliving world
What are organic molecules defined as?
MOlecules that contain both carbon and hydrogen atoms
What are the four classes of organic compounds in living things?
Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids
What are the class of organic molecules called?
Biomolecules
What facts about carbon explain it’s ability to make such diverse life?
- Can have four bonds
- bonds to CHNOPS
- The shape and function varies greatly
- Carbons can form double bonds
What element makes up the backbone of most molecules?
Carbon (carbon chains)
What is a functional group?
It is a specific combination of bonded atoms that always react in the same way, regardless of the carbon skeleton
Hydroxl: Structure, Compound, Significance
Structure: OH-R
Compound: Alcohol as in ethanol
Significance: Polar, forms hydrogen bond, present in sugars and some amino acids
Carbonyl: Compound, Significance
Aldehyde (as in formaldehyde), Ketone (acetone).. Polar (present in sugars)
Carboxyl: Compound, Significance
Carboxylic acid (acetic acid), Polar, acidic, Present in fatty acids and amino acids
Amino
Amine (tryptophan), Polar, basic forms, hydrogen bonds, present in amino acids
Sulfhydryl: Compound, Significance
Thiol (as in ethanethiol), Forms disulfide bonds, present in some amino acids
Phosphate: Compound, Significance
Organic phosphate, as in phosphorylated molecules, Polar, acidic, present in nucleotides and phospholipids
What is hydrophobic?
It means “not soluble in water”
What is hydrophyllic?
Means soluble in water
What do the attached functional groups determine about the molecule?
They determine the polarity of the organic molecule and the types of reactions it will undergo
WHat are isomers?
They are organic molecules that have identical molecular formulas but vary in different arrangement of atoms
How are isomers going to differ in chemical reactions?
Isomers have different structures and functional groups. Therefore, they will behave differently in chemical reactions
What is dehydration synthesis?
It is the process by which a cell uses condensation to synthesize any type of biomolecule. An OH- is released from one group and a H+ is released from another and the two subunits are joined
What his hydrolysis?
It is the process that the cell uses to break apart biomolecules. An OH- and H+ come back and attach to the ends of the two subunits, respectively
What is required for a cell to carry out a dehydration and hydrolysis?
An enzyme
What are polymers?
They are the largest of biomolecules
What makes up polymers?
Monomers (the subunits)
What are carbohydrates used as?
An energy source in living things. However, they also play a structural role in organisms
What are monoscaccharides?
They consist of a single sugar molecule and are called simple sugars
How many carbons usually make up the backbone of a simple sugar?
3-7
What is the molecular formula of a simple sugar?
CH2O
How many carbons does glucose have, and what is it’s molecular formula?
C6H12O6
What are some of the isomers of glucose?
fructose and galactose
WHere are Ribose and Deoxyribose found, respectively?
They are found in the nucleic acids RNA nad DNA
What is a disaccharide?
It consists of two monosaccharides that have been joined together via dehydration synthesis
What are polysaccharides?
They are polymers of monosaccharides
How do plants store glucose?
Starch
How do animals store glucose?
as glycogen
Are polysaccharides soluble in water?
No
What are the structural polysaccharides?
Cellulose (in plants), chitin (in animals and fungi), and peptidoglycan (in bacteria)