Chemistry of life Flashcards
What are atoms, elements and molecules?
-atoms are the smallest units of matter that retain the properties and characteristics of the element
-elements cannot be broken down into a simpler form and have a range of chemical and physical properties E.g hydrogen, oxygen, carbon
-molecules are when 2 or more atoms share electrons
What is the atomic number?
Number of protons in an atom
What is the mass number?
Number of protons and neutrons in an atom
What is an ion and what are the 2 types of ions?
-an ion is when an atom either gives up or gains electrons, giving it a positive (cation) OR negative (anion) charge
-in clinical practice ions are called electrolytes
What is an ionic bond?
The force of attraction between ions of opposite charges e.g sodium chloride
What is a covalent bond?
The atoms form a molecule by sharing one, two, or three pairs of their outer shell electrons
What is a hydrogen bond?
The polar covalent bonds that form between hydrogen atoms and other atoms give rise to this type of bond
What are inorganic compounds? Give a few examples
-compounds that lack carbon
-are structurally simple
-held together by ionic or covalent bonds
-e.g water, many salts, acids and bases
What are organic compounds?
-always contain carbon
-usually contain hydrogen
-always have covalent bonds
What are acids and alkaline?
-acids have a pH of below 7
-alkalines have a pH of above 7
What are carbohydrates? Give some examples
-organic compounds that contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
-e.g sugars, glycogen, cellulose
What are lipids?
-hydrophobic
-contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
What are proteins?
-large molecules that contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, (and sulfur)
What is DNA and what nitrogenous bases makes it up?
-provides the blueprint of life
-adenine, guanine, thymine, cytosine
How is RNA different to DNA?
RNA contains uracil instead of thymine
What is ATP?
-chemical energy used by all cells, and is released when phosphate bond is broken
What is the structure of enzymes?
Is a protein with a specific and complementary shaped active site allowing the binding of substrates to bring about a chemical reaction
What is the significance of oxygen to health?
-part of water and many organic molecules
-used to generate ATP
What is the significance of carbon to health?
-forms backbone chain of all organic molecules e.g DNA, carbohydrates, lipids and proteins
What is the significance of hydrogen to health?
-part of water
-ionized form makes bodily fluids more acidic
What is the significance of nitrogen to health?
-component of all proteins and nucleic acids
What is the significance of calcium to health?
-hardness for bones and teeth
-ionized form needed for blood clotting
-muscle contraction
What is the significance of potassium to health?
-needed to generate action potentials
What is the significance of sodium to health?
-needed to generate action potentials
What is the significance of iron to health?
-ionized forms are part of haemoglobin
What is the significance of chlorine to health?
-maintains water balance
