Chapter One: Biochemistry Flashcards
What are the relative masses and charges of the 3 subatomic particles?
Proton: 1, +1
Neutron: 1, 0
Electron: 0, -1
Why are atoms in the elemental state neutral?
Equal number of protons and electrons
What does electron configuration determine?
How atoms of an element react with another type of atoms
What are atoms called when their electrons are in the lowest available energy level?
Ground state
When do electrons move to higher energy levels?
When they absorb energy
What is the state of electrons in higher energy levels?
Excited state
Explain how chlorophyll molecules make sugar using idea of energy
Chlorophyll absorbs light energy, excited electrons provide energy to make sugar as they release energy while returning to ground state
What are isotopes?
Atoms of the same element that vary only with neutron number
State uses of radioisotopes
Estimating age of fossils, medical diagnosis and treatment
When is a bond formed?
When nuclei attract the same electrons
Why are bonds made?
To obtain stability/full valency
State what happens to energy when bonds are made/broken
Made: released
Broken: supplied
How are ionic bonds formed? Which elements are ionic bonds formed in?
Electrons are transferred
In metals
What are anions and cations
Gains electrons: Anion: negative ion
Loses electrons: Cation: positive ion
How are covalent bonds made?
Electrons are shared to form molecules
What makes bonds non polar? (3+1)
Electrons are shared equally, and form between alike atoms ( mono/diatomic, *and C-H), and are symmetrical
What makes bonds polar? (3+1)
Electrons shared unequally, formed between unalike atoms, especially hydrogen bonds, asmmetrical
What is intermolecular force of attraction?
Force between molecules
What is polar-polar attraction? Determine the strength of polar molecules compared to that of non polar molecules
Attraction between positive and negative ends of polar molecules. Polar ones are stronger
Explain non polar molecule attraction
Balanced, and linear in terms of symmetry so they have the weakest attraction
Describe the terms hydrophobic and hydrophilic
Phobic:Water hating
Philic:Water loving
Non polar substances such as lipids do not dissolve in water. Why?
Like dissolves like.
State which things give water it’s special characteristics
It is asymmetrical->highly polar, strong intermolecular attractions->strong hydrogen bonding
Water has a high specific heat capacity. What does this mean?
It takes a lot of heat in order to raise the temperature of 1gram of water by 1°C