Chapters 1-5 Flashcards
Systems biology
Exploration of a biological system by analyzing the interactions
Controlled experiment
Experiment that compares an experimental group to a controlled group
Trace element
Required by an organism in minute quantities
ex: boron, copper, zinc
Difference between hypotheses and theories
Hypothesis are narrow
Theories are broad
Emergent properties vs. Reductionism
Emergent: small - large
Reduce: large - small
In a water molecule, electrons…
Oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, so the electrons of the covalent bonds spend more time closer to oxygen to hydrogen, creating polar covalent bonds
Polar molecule
Overall charge is unevenly distributed
Nonpolar molecule
Overall charge is evenly distributed
Oxygen
Partially negative
Hydrogen
Partially positive
Total thermal energy
Depends on the matter’s volume
Ex: swimming pool as more thermal energy than a hot teapot
Specific heat
Amount of heat that must be lost or absorbed for 1 g of that substance to change its temperature by 1°C
Polar covalent bonds
Electrons of the polar covalent bond spend more time near the oxygen than the hydrogen
Polarity allows water molecules to form hydrogen bonds with each other
Water’s pH is 7 (neutral) because
Concentrations of H and OH are equal
pH greater than 7
Base
pH less than 7
Acid
For water to vaporize, which bonds have to be broken?
Hydrogen bonds
In a single water molecule, two hydrogen atoms are bonded to a single oxygen atom by
Polar covalent bonds
How many hydrogen bonds can a single water molecule form?
4
What is hydrogen bonding?
The slightly positive H of one molecule is attracted to the slightly negative O of a nearby molecule
Cohesion
Particles of the same substance stick together
Adhesion
One substance clings to another
What does water’s High specific heat mean?
It means it takes a lot of heat for water to get hot
How does hydrogen bonding contribute to water’s high specific heat?
The heat is used to disrupt hydrogen bonds before the water molecules can begin moving faster
Why does ice float?
Because water expands and becomes less dense as a solid than as a liquid
Solvent
The substance by dissolving
Solution
Homogenous mixture of two or more substances
Solute
Substance that is dissolved
Why is water a good solvent?
Water created a hydrogen shell - sphere of water molecules around each dissolved ion
Molarity
Number of moles of solute per liter of solution
Acid
A substance that increases the hydrogen ion concentration of a solution
Base
A substance that decreases the hydrogen ion concentration of a solution
How many bonds can carbon form? How many valence electrons does carbon have? What type of bonds does carbon form?
4
Single or double covalent
How can carbon skeletons differ?
Length, straight, branched, arranged in close rings, doubles bonds that vary in number and location, and other atoms can be bonded
What is a hydrocarbon?
Organic molecules consisting of only hydrogen and carbon
Nonpolar
Extremely hydroPHOBIC
Isomer
Compounds that have the same # of atoms in elements, but different structures, causing different functions
Isotope
Same atom with different number of neutrons
Functional group
Chemical groups that are directly involved in chemical reactions
The 7 groups are across the board and can be on any carbon skeleton
Hydroxyl (-OH)
Polar, due to electronegative oxygen, forms hydrogen bonds with water
Carbonyl (>C=O)
Double bond w/ O
Sugars w/ ketone groups are called ketoses; those with aldehydes are called aldehydes
Carboxyl (-COOH)
Acts as an ACID
More polar, sticks to H2O because H2O is polar!
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Amino Group (-NH2)
Acts as a BASE
Takes out hydrogen from solution
Sulfhydryl (-SH or HS-)
Sulfur will always be attached
Two -SH groups can react, forming a “cross-link” that helps stabilize protein structure
Phosphate (-OPO3 2-)
Contributes negative charge
When attached, confers on a molecule the ability to react w/ water, releasing energy
ATP
Methyl Group (-CH3)
Affects the expression of genes
Affects the shape and function of sex hormones
Carbon mainly forms…
Covalent bonds
Polar and nonpolar
Hydrocarbons are…
Extremely hydrophobic
Saturated
Holding as much as it can
Solid at room temperature
Unsaturated
Means that there’s a double bond because it’s not holding as much as it can
Liquid at room temperature
“Big players”
CHON
Enzyme
Specialized macromolecules that speed up chemical reactions
Carbohydrates
Includes sugars and polymers of sugars
Simplest carbs. are monosaccharides
Glucose is a
MONOSACCHARIDE
Disaccharide
Two monomers joined by a glycosidic linkage, a covalent bond formed between 2 monomers
Formed when a dehydration reaction joins two monosaccharides
Lipids are insoluble!
Mix poorly, if at all, with water
HydroPHOBIC because they consist mostly of hydrocarbons, which form nonpolar covalent bonds
Cell membranes, fats, energy storage
Lipids are made of
Fatty acids
Carbohydrates are made of
Monosaccharides
Nucleic acids are made of
Nucleotides