Chapter 4 Chemical Compositions In a Cell Flashcards
What is water and what is it made up of?
It is an inorganic compound consisting of 2 hydrogen ions and an oxygen ion
What are some properties of water?
Polar molecules
Cohesive force and adhesive force of water
Specific heat of water
Are water molecules polar molecules? and what are its uses?
Water molecules are polar molecules because shared electrons between oxygen and hydrogen will be attracted towards oxygen which is more electronegative
This allows it io produce hydrogen bonds and water to act as a universal solvent
Explain about the universal properties of water
Allow solutes such as glucose and electrolytes to be transported through the plasma membranes into cells for biochemical reactions
Explain about the cohesive and adhesive force of water and its importane
Water molecules attach to each other through a cohesive force and also attach to other surfaces through adhesive force
Both forces produce the capillary action which allows water to enter and move along narrow spaces, such as the xylem tube
Explain about the specific heat capacity of water
Has a specific heat capacity of 4.2 kJ kg-1 C-1, which means that 4.2 kJ of heat energy is required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1C
Water absorbs a lot of heat energy with a small rise of temperature which helps to maintain the body temperature of organisms
What are organic compounds?
Compounds that contain carbon elements
What are polymers
Polymers are macromolecules comprising of small molecules known as monomers
What are macromolecules formed from?
formed from large and complex compounds
Examples of polymers
Nucleic acid, Carbs, protein
What is the importance of carbohydrates
Source of energy
Basic structure of some organisms
What is the chemical formula of carbohydrates?
( CH2O )n
What are the 3 main types of carbohydrates
Monosaccharides ( simple sugars )
Disaccharides
Polysaccharides ( Complex sugars )
What are Monosaccharides?
Carbohydrate monomers and can combine to form polymers through a condensation reaction
Most monosaccharides taste sweet, form crystals and dissolve in water
What are examples of monosaccharides
Glucose, Fructose, Galactose
Where can glucose be found
found in plants such as rice and wheat, fruits. They are also the most commonly found monosaccharide and most polysaccharides are formed from this sugar
Where can Fructose be found
Honey and sweet fruits
Where can galactose be found?
Milk, yoghurt, cheese
What is the use of monosaccharrides?
Has reducing power, which is the ability to transfer hydrogen to other compounds. This is known as the reducing process
How are disaccharides molecules formed?
When 2 simple sugar molecules combine through condensation to form a disaccharide unit which involves the removal of a water molecule
Examples of the process of condensation to form disaccharides
Glucose + glucose > Maltose + water
Glucose + fructose > Sucrose + water
Glucose + galactose > Lactose + water
Examples of disaccharides and where they can be found
Maltose ( grains )
Lactose ( dairy product )
Sucrose ( fruits and vegetables )
Explain the process of hydrolysis in disaccharides
The process of breaking down disaccharides to their monosaccharides with the addition of one water molecule
Examples of reducing sugars
Maltose, Lactose
Examples of non-reducing sugars
Sucrose
What are polysaccharides
Sugar polymers consisting of monosaccharide monomers
How are polysaccharides formed
Formed through the condensation process and involves hundreds of monosaccharides to form long molecular chains
Are polysaccharides soluble in water?
No, this is due to their large molecular size
What does hydrolysis do to polysaccharides?
Disintegrates polysaccharides with the help of dilute acids, boiling and enzyme action
What are the importance of polysaccharides
Source of energy
Food reserve
Support structure
Importance of cellulose, glycogen and starch
Cellulose: form the main structure of the cell wall
Starch: Main storage of polysaccharide in plants and also found in chloroplasts
Glycogen: Main storage of polysaccharide in muscle cells and animal liver cells
What is protein and what elements does it compose of?
Complex compound composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen elements and sometimes sulphur and phosphorus
Examples of food rich in protein?
Fish, meat, milk, beans
