Chemistry of Life Flashcards
What is an inorganic compound?
They do not contain carbon to carbon bonds
What is an organic compound?
Contain carbon to carbon bonds. They all have Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen.
What do carbohydrates contain and what is the ratio?
They contain Carbon, Hydrogen and oxygen. The ratio between hydrogen atoms and oxygen atoms is 2:1
What are the three types of Carbohydrates?
Monosaccharide, Disaccharide, Polysaccharide
Monosaccharide?
One sugar unit. Soluble in water. Has crystals. Sweet. Glucose and fructose and galactose.
Disaccharide?
2 sugar units, soluble in water. Has crystals. Sweet. Sucrose and maltose and lactose
Polysaccharide?
Many sugar units, INsoluble in water. Not crystals. Not sweet. Starch, cellulose, glycogen
Why are carbohydrates important?
Cellular respiration(energy source from glucose).
Reserve fuel source
structural components.
What is a lipid?
Molecules that contain carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen
What is the ratio of Hydrogens to Oxygens in a Lipid
More than 2:1
What does each lipid contain?
One glycerol to 3 fatty acids(FA is fatty acid)
What are the types of Fatty Acids?
Saturated, Unsaturated and Polyunsaturated
Saturated?
Lots of Hydrogen atoms. Common in animals. Solid at room temp. Called fats
Unsaturated?
One less Hydrogen in each molecule. Common in plants. Liquid at room temp. Called oils
Polyunsaturated?
Several Hydrogen atoms less in each molecule. Common in plants. Liquid at room temp. Called oils.
What is the function of lipids?
Provide double the amount of energy as carbs. Store energy. Protection of organs like heart and kidneys. Insulators against cold. Some vitamins only dissolve in fat.
Draw a lipid.
look in book.
What is cholesterol?
A waxy lipid found naturally in the human body, forms part of cell membrane. Synthesized from liver.
If cholesterol is too high, what happens?
Can cause damage to blood vessels if deposited in the inner walls. If the blood vessels become blocked, this build up can lead to heart problems and high blood pressure. This is called coronary heart disease and is the cause of heart attacks.
What does animal fat contain?
Saturated fats and cholesterol.
What is plaque?
Fatty material on the inside of our arteries
What is atherosclerosis?
This is when the fatty layer narrows the arteries.
What is a Protein?
Organic molecules made up ALWAYS of Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen. and SOMETIMES Sulfur, Phosphorus, Iron.
What are the monomers of proteins?
Amino acids
What are the three structures of protein?
Coiled, folded, straight.
What bonds amino acids?
Peptide Bonds
What is a polypeptide?
LESS than 50 amino acids joined together
What is a protein( how many amino acids?)
More than 50 amino acids joined together.
Draw an amino acid, Peptide chain and a polypeptide(protein)
look in book
What causes proteins to denature?
Changes in pH or temperature. Usually it is an increase in temp.
What happens when a protein denatures?
Change shape, bonds break and they come undone. Loose structure and function.
Why are proteins important?
Immunity( antibodies are proteins). Form hormones. Growth and repair tissue.
What is an enzyme?
Are protein molecules that control metabolic reactions. Called organic catalyst.
What is a active site?
Site on the surface of an enzyme that acts on the substrate.
What is a substrate?
What is being broken down or what is used to form.
draw a active site
look in book
What is a lock and key model?
Is a theory of how specific enzymes act on specific substrate.
draw lock and key model
look in book.
What is the function of enzymes?
To build up reactions or break down reactions.
What is an anabolic reaction?
building up reactions
What is a catabolic reaction?
Breaking down reactions
What is a nucleic acid
An organic compound containing carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus
Where are nucleic acids found
Inside the cytoplasm, nucleus, mitochondria and in chloroplast.
There are two kinds of nucleic acids, name them
Deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA) and Ribonucleic acid (RNA)
Function of Nucleic acids?
Protein synthesis for building and repairing cells
What is DNA?
Very large molecule. Sugar is deoxyribose. DNA is found in the nucleus.
What is RNA?
Smaller molecule. Sugar is ribose. RNA makes copies of the information of a gene in DNA and takes it from the nucleus to the cytoplasm where the proteins are mad.
What is a vitamin?
Organic compounds needed in small amounts(microelement)
Can the body make vitamins?
No
If you don’ get enough vitamins what could you suffer from?
Deficiency disease
Vitamin A?
Fat-soluble. Ensures eyesight and healthy skin. In liver, fish, carrot. Nightblindness
Vitamin B?
Water-soluble. Proper functioning of nerves and muscle tone. Lean meat, eggs, brown rice. BeriBeri
Vitamin C?
Water-soluble. Antioxidant, healthy teeth and gums. Citrus, pineapple, green veg. Scurvy
Vitamin D?
Fat-soluble. Strengthens bones and teeth. Sun,fish,cheese. Rickets. Osteoporosis.
Vitamin E?
Fat-soluble. Protects cells from harmful effects of free radicals that cause heart disease and cancer. Vegetable oils, nuts, leafy greens. Anemia, infertility
