chapter3 - macromolecules

Question 1

What are the 4 large biological molecules (or macromolecules)?
What are their uses?

Answer 1

Carbohydrates (generally storing energy)
Lipids (e.g. fats; key component of cell membranes)
Proteins (multiple functions)
Nucleic Acids (DNA RNA)

Question 2

What are Polymers?

Answer 2

A polymer is a long chain of repeating molecular subunits (called monomers).

Question 3

What is a monomer?

Answer 3

Small molecules which can be joined together in repeating fashion to form more complex molecules (called polymers).

Question 4

What is the process that is used to build polymers from monomers?

Answer 4

Dehydration synthesis (also known as condensation reaction): a monomer forms a covalent bond with another monomer (or a chain of monomers), and releases water in the process. This reaction typically requires energy.

Question 5

What is the process by which polymers turn back into monomers?
Why is this important?

Answer 5

Hydrolysis: a molecule comprised of multiple subunits is split into two and consumes a water molecule. This is the reverse of dehydration synthesis. This reaction generally releases energy.

It is important because the body may recycle the monomers to form new polymers.

Question 6

What is used to speed up the dehydration synthesis or hydrolysis reactions?

Answer 6

enzymes act as a catalyst to speed up the reactions

Question 7

What are the names of enzymes used to break down maltose (a carbohydrate), lipids, and proteins?

Answer 7

they usually end in -ase
maltase breaks down maltose
lipases break down lipids
peptidases (also called polypeptides) break down proteins

Question 8

What are 4 emergent properties of water?

Answer 8

Cohesive
Adhesive
Expansion upon freezing
Versatility as a Solvent.

Question 9

What is Temperature?

Answer 9

the average Kinect energy.

Question 10

What is Heat?

Answer 10

the transfer of energy.

Question 11

What is a Calorie (heat / energy)?

Answer 11

the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1g of water by 1 degree Celsius.

Kilo Calorie = Cal
cal = base

Question 12

What is a Joule (Heat)?

Answer 12

another unit of energy.
1J = 0.239 cal
1Cal = 4.184 J

Question 13

What is the Specific Heat?

Answer 13

the amount of energy that must be absorbed of lost for 1g of that substance to change by 1 degree Celsius.

Question 14

What is Molarity (M)?

Answer 14

the # of moles of solute per liter of solution. Measure of concentration.
1 mole (mol) = 6.02 x 10^23 molecules.
1g = 6.02 x 10^23 daltons (amu)

Question 15

What is an Acid?

Answer 15

any substance that raises the # of hydrogen (hydronium) ions in a solution.

Question 16

What is a Base?

Answer 16

any substance that raises the hydroxide ions in a solution.

Question 17

What are strong acids and bases?
What are weak acids and bases?

Answer 17

strong: disassociates completely in water.
weak: will form a reversible reaction.

Question 18

What are the pH and pOH formula?

Answer 18

pH = - log [H+]
pOH = - log [OH-]

Question 19

What are buffers?

Answer 19

Substances that keep the pH of a solution constant or stable.
Most buffers are weak acids and its corresponding base, which combine reversibly with H+ ions.

Question 20

What is Sea Acidification?

Answer 20

When CO2 dissolves in sea-water, it yields carbonic acid. This process is called ocean acidification.