Chemistry of Life Flashcards
considered the smallest particle of matter that is not divisible by any chemical means and is the smallest unit of an element to enter chemical reactions.
atom
All atoms of an element have a particular number of protons that can also be called what?
atomic number
considered the smallest part of a compound; All atoms of an element have a particular number of protons that can also be called this…
molecules
it is an interaction involving atoms of elements combining with one another; It is the attractive force that binds atoms together to form molecules and is determined by the electrons that surround the nucleus.
chemical bonding
the electrons of an atom are shared. This is characteristic of most chemicals in living things. During this bond, the smallest particle or molecule is formed.
covalent bond
an electron is transferred from one atom to another. In this process, when the electron is lost, cations are formed, while if an electron is gained anions are formed.
ionic bond
it happens when hydrogen combines with oxygen or with another electronegative atom. This bond is weak and can be easily formed or broken. It is also an important chemical bond in biological systems as well as in determining the structure of DNA and proteins.
hydrogen bond
these are the molecules that always contain carbon and hydrogen, and their atoms are usually held together by covalent bonds.
organic molecules
the main source of energy in the body and their building blocks are the glucose molecules.
carbohydrates
this can also be called simple sugars. It is an important source of energy for the cells and is a sub-unit for most of the polysaccharides.
monosaccharides
blood sugar or dextrose
glucose
fruit sugar
fructose
double sugar
galactose
it is composed of two monosaccharides bonded together. It is the principal sugar that is being transported throughout the bodies of land plants.
disaccharides
milk sugar: glucose + galactose
lactose
malt sugar: glucose + glucose
maltose
table sugar: glucose + fructose
sucrose
this type of carbohydrate is also known as complex sugar. It is composed of numerous monosaccharides, mainly glucose, bonded together.
polysaccharides
structural material in plants
cellulose
energy storage in plants
starch
energy storage in animals
glycogen
composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen with no definite ratio, the number of oxygen atoms is very much less compared to hydrogen atoms. This is where the energy is stored
lipids
composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen with no definite ratio, the number of oxygen atoms is very much less compared to hydrogen atoms. This is where the energy is
stored
lipids
It is composed of three fatty acids bonded to glycerol. This includes oil and fats, stearin, palmitin, olein, and waxes; also called as triglyceride
simple lipids
lipids that are found in combination with other compounds
compound lipids
lipids with protein
lipoproteins
lipids with carbohydrates
glycolipids
composed of four-fused rings of carbon atoms with functional groups attached. It includes cholesterol which is a common component of membranes of eukaryotic cells.
steroids
composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen plus other elements such as sulfur, iron, iodine, etc. It is important in the growth and repair of tissues,
proteins
proteins that are arranged parallel along a single axis to produce long fibers or sheets.
fibrous protein
the most abundant protein in vertebrates found in bones, cartilage, and skin.
collagen
helical protein, the principal component of hair, skin, and nails
keratin
blood plasma responsible for blood clotting
fibrinogen
actin and myosin, responsible for muscle contraction
muscle proteins
sheet protein produced by silk moths and spider
silk pleated
The polypeptide of these proteins is tightly folded into spherical or globular shapes, hence the reason for its name.
globular protein
soluble proteins abundant in animal cells, blood serum, milk, and eggs.
albumins and globulins
the component of vertebrate blood used to transport oxygen.
hemoglobin
It is a simple protein in union with other substances.
conjugated protein
protein with nucleic acids (ex. histone)
nucleoprotein
protein with carbohydrates (ex. mucin)
Glycoprotein
protein with fatty acids (ex. serum and brain tissue)
lipoprotein
protein with pigments (ex. cytochrome)
chromoprotein
composed of hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus. It is important in protein synthesis as RNA and as a hereditary material as DNA.
nucleic acids
chemical reactions that take place inside the cell.
biochemical reactions
contain positive and negative ions; usually composed of short chains and are often associated with non-living things. This includes water, acids and bases, salts, and gases.
inorganic molecules
the most abundant component of the protoplasm
water
molecules that raise the hydrogen ion concentration when added to a solution like HCl
acids
these are molecules that lower the hydrogen ion concentration when added to a solution like NaOH.
bases
formed from the neutralization of an acid and a base.
salts
important in the oxidation of food molecules to release energy (ex. oxygen & carbon dioxide)
gases
