Chemistry of life

Question 1

what are the 6 characteristics of life

Answer 1

1 - if the organism is unicellular or multicellular
2 - if the cell increase in size, number or both
3 - if the organism can regulate its own metabolic processes
4 - if the organism reacts to internal and external stimuli
5 - if the organism has the ability to reproduce
6 - the organisms ability to adapt to its surrounding environment

Question 2

organic compounds

Answer 2

• can be produced by our body (have their origin in living organisms)
• contains large numbers of carbon atoms (with hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and phosphorous)
• large and complex molecules
• combustible in oxygen to form carbon

Question 3

inorganic compounds

Answer 3

• do not have a living origin
• do not contain carbon (with the exception of carbon dioxide, monoxide and cyanide compounds)
• pure elements and simple molecules
• usually does not burn in oxygen

Question 4

carbohydrates are separated into what

Answer 4

monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides

Question 5

monosaccharides

Answer 5

-soluble in water
consists of 3-7 carbon atoms
simple sugars
aka Triose sugars, pentose sugars, and hexose sugars

Question 6

disaccharides

Answer 6

2 monosaccharides that have been bonded together

glucose+glucose= maltose (malt sugar)
glucose+fructose= sucrose (cane sugar)
glucose+galactose= lactose (milk sugar)

Question 7

polysaccharides

Answer 7

complex sugars (starch)
a macromolecule that consists of thousands of interconnected monomers usually glucose

Question 8

Lipids (2 types)

Answer 8

polysaturated fats (oil/liquid fats)
unsaturated fats (solid fats) 
- ~ saturated bonds 
-
- ~ unsaturated bond

Question 9

fats are made up of which two building blocks and talk about the solubility of fats

Answer 9

• fatty acids and glycerol
  (glycerol bonded with fatty acids form lipids)
  lipids are hydrophobic (insoluble in water) however it is soluble in non-polar solvents like alcohol or ethanol

Question 10

functions of fats

Answer 10

• stored under the skin and act as insulation
• reserve energy
• the insulation maintains body temperature
  protects the body
• cholesterol is found naturally in the body (ultraviolet rays convert cholesterol into vitamin D)
• important for the absorption of calcium magnesium and phosphate
• necessary for normal metabolic processes

Question 11

what are Proteins formed by

Answer 11

formed by a certain amount and combination of amino acids (20 different types of amino acids)

Question 12

3 forms of proteins

Answer 12

primary, secondary and tertiary

tertiary is needed for functions

Question 13

proteins functions

Answer 13

• play a structural roll in the cell membrane
• helps with the growth, maintenance and repair in cells
• play a roll in transport (haemoglobin)
• last reserve
• hormones (which control most of the functions in the body) are made from proteins
• inactive in lower temperatures
• denature in higher temperatures

Question 14

amino acids are bound by which 4 bonds

Answer 14

• dipeptide
• tripeptide
• polypeptide
• protein (has more then 50 peptide bonds)

Question 15

enzymes are what? and what are they sensitive too

Answer 15

enzymes are biological catalysts (they start or accelerate biochemical reactions)
they are pH (7) and temperature specific (37°C)

Question 16

all enzymes are

Answer 16

proteins

Question 17

water

Answer 17

• the biggest part of it most living organisms
• an inorganic substance
• the solvent and medium in which most biological reactions take place
• needed for neuro function
• a habitat for many organisms