Chemical Compounds in Cells Flashcards
Compound
A substance made of two or more elements chemically combined in a specific ratio, or proportion.
Element
A pure substance that cannot be broken down into other substances by chemical or physical means.
Organic Compound
Compounds that contain carbon
Inorganic Compound
Compounds that don’t contain carbon
Carbohydrate
An energy-rich organic compound, such as a sugar or a starch, that is made of the elements carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
Lipid
An energy-rich organic compound, such as a fat, oil, or wax, that is made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
Protein
Large organic molecule made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur.
Enzyme
A type of protein that speeds up a chemical reaction in a living thing.
Nucleic Acid
A very large organic molecule made of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and phosphorus, that contains the instructions cells need to carry out all the functions of life.
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid; the genetic material that carries information about an organism and is passed from parent to offspring.