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