Chemistry of life

Question 1

the building block of of biological molecules

Answer 1

carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen(proteins), sulfur (in some) form the structure of biological molecules

carbon forms the skeleton of many biological molecules

Question 2

types of bonds

Answer 2

covalent

the electrostatic forces of attraction between a shared pair of electrons and the nuclei of the bonding atoms

ionic

the electrostatic forces of attraction between oppositely charged ions/functional groups
eg: between positively charged amino and negatively charged carboxyl

hydrogen
electrostatic forces of attraction between a protonic H in H-F, H-O, H-N bond and a lone pair on a highly electronegative F, O, N atoms in another molecule

electronegative atom attracts a large share of the shared electrons to itself leaving H with a very small share of electrons. H acquires a large partial positive charge whereas the electronegative atom acquires a large partial negative charge

Question 3

Interactions

Answer 3

Hydrophobic
The interaction between non polar groups and water
when non polar groups are added to water, they disturb the hydrogen bonded network of water. The force exerted by the hydrogen bonded network pushes non polar groups together and causes them to cluster. reducing the amount of non polar regions exposed to water

Hydrophilic
The interaction between polar groups and water. They can dissolve in water by forming hydration shells

Amphipathic
The nature of most biological molecules such as lipids . Contains both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions

Question 4

Functional groups

Answer 4

Methyl
Ethyl
Sulfhydryl
Carboxyl
Carbonyl
Hydroxyl
Amino
Phosphoryl

Question 5

Polar bond

Answer 5

electrons are not equally shared. The more electronegative atom has a greater share of the shared electrons than the less electronegative atom

Question 6

Non polar bond

Answer 6

electrons equally shared. Atoms involved in the bond are of similar electronegativity