Chemistry of Cells Flashcards
What is an organic compound?
A covalently bonded carbon with another element - commonly hydrogen, oxygen, or other carbon atoms.
What are the four main types of organic compounds?
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins
Amino Acids
What is a carbohydrate, and what does it do?
They are an organic compound of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio, and are a key source of energy.
What are the basic materials, or building blocks, of a carbohydrate?
Monosaccharides.
What is a disaccharide?
Double sugars formed when two monosaccharides are joined.
What is a polysaccharide?
A macromolecule which consists of many smaller molecules.
What is another function for polysaccharides?
Storehouses for energy stored in the form of sugars.
What are lipids?
Non-polar molecules that are bit soluble in water.
What are fats?
Lipids that store energy.
What is a protein?
A chain of amino acids.
What are amino acids?
Building blocks of proteins.
How many amino acids are there?
20, each with a different chemical structure.
What are enzymes?
Proteins that promote chemical reactions.
What is a nucleic acid?
A long chain of smaller molecules called nucleotides.
What is a nucleotide?
Consists of cytosine, adenine, thymine, and guanine. Stores information.
