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AP Bio > Chemistry of Life > Flashcards

Chemistry of Life Flashcards

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AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Element

A

A substance that cannot be broken down by chemical reactions. Atoms are their smallest units that retain its properties.

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2
Q

Trace elements

A

Required by an organism in only minute quantities (iron, iodine).

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3
Q

Isotopes

A

Forms of an element with differing numbers of neutrons

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4
Q

Electronegativity

A

Tendency to attract electrons

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5
Q

Covalent bonds

A
  1. Valence electrons are shared between atoms
  2. Most common bond in bio
    3.
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6
Q

Nonpolar covalent

A

Electrons are shared equally

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7
Q

Polar covalent

A

Electrons are shared unequally due to unequal negativities. Causes areas of partial positive and partial negative charges.

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8
Q

Hydrogen bonds

A
  1. Bond bases in nucleic acids and form between water molecules
  2. Weak bonds that form between hydrogen (partial positive) and oxygen or nitrogen (strongly electronegative)
  3. Water can form 4 hydrogen bonds at a time
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9
Q

Properties of water

A
  1. Cohesion- creates surface tension and allows molecules to cling together
  2. High specific heat- large amount of heat to boil
  3. Less dense as a solid, allows ice to float
  4. Important solvent for polar substances
  5. All are due to hydrogen bonds
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10
Q

Cohesion

A
  1. Allows for adhesion and transpiration. Occurs in thin vessels (capillary action).
  2. Adhesion- water molecules stick to other substances
  3. Transpiration- water moves up xylem and evaporates from leaves- molecules cling to each other by cohesion and to plant vessel walls by adhesion.
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11
Q

High specific heat

A

Takes a lot of heat to heat up water, so it can remain in our bodies without boiling. Keeps temperature of oceans stable.

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12
Q

Expansion on freezing

A

Makes ice less dense, letting it float and protecting organisms that live in water.

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13
Q

Acids

A

Excess of hydrogen ions, have a pH below 7

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14
Q

Bases

A

Excess of hydroxide ions (OH), have a pH above 7

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15
Q

Buffers

A

Minimize changes in pH by accepting or donating hydrogen ions depending on the change. Carbonic acid is a buffer to control pH in the human body and in oceans.

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16
Q

pH

A

Scale is logarithmic- measures hydrogen ions by a factor of 10. pH of 3 is ten times more acidic than 4.

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17
Q

Polymers

A

Chain of building blocks, individual are called monomers

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18
Q

Organic compounds

A

All contain carbon, and most contain hydrogen and oxygen, connected by covalent bonds.

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19
Q

Properties of carbon

A

Can form up to 4 covalent bonds, can form chains, ring shaped molecules, or branches.

20
Q

Isomers

A

Same molecular formula but differ in the arrangement of atoms, which creates different properties. Examples are glucose and fructose, which both have the same formula.

21
Q

Functional groups

A 
Create diverse properties. 
Alcohol (OH)
Organic acid (COOH)
Amino (NH2)
Phosphate (PO3)
22
Q

Carbohydrates

A
  1. Contain Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio
  2. Soluble in water
  3. Classified as mono, di, or polysaccharides
23
Q

Monosaccharides

A
  1. Simple sugars/monomers that are used as energy for cells (glucose, fructose).
  2. Depicted as straight or as rings (C6H12O6)
24
Q

Disaccharides

A
  1. Form through dehydration synthesis

2. Uses 2 sugar molecules. 2 glucose molecules form maltose

25
Q

Polysaccharides

A
  1. Repeated units of monosaccharides
  2. Energy storage. Glycogen for animals, starch for plants
  3. Structural support. Cellulose for plant cell walls, chitin for insect exoskeletons
26
Q

Dehydration Synthesis

A

Bonds form by removing a water molecule

27
Q

Hydrolysis

A

Water is added to break bonds.

28
Q

Lipids

A
  1. Contain Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen, but not in a 1:2:1 ratio.
  2. Most are insoluble in water and repel it
  3. Also can contain other elements of phosphorus, nitrogen, and sulfur
  4. Types: fats/triglycerides, steroids, phospholipids
  5. Monomers- glycerol and fatty acids
29
Q

Functions of lipids

A
  1. Energy storage- store more calories than carbs

2. Protection and insulation of vital organs

30
Q

Saturated

A

Single bonds, these types of fats are unhealthy. Solid at room temp

31
Q

Triglycerides

A
  1. Classified as saturated or unsaturated

2. Glycerol with 3 fatty acids (long chain of carbons covered in hydrogen) attached to it

32
Q

Phospholipids

A
  1. Diglyceride (tail) with negatively charged phosphate (head). Head is polar and hydrophilic
  2. Make up cell membranes
33
Q

Steroids

A
  1. Large lipids formed by 4 connected rings of Carbon

2. Form of some hormones, like testosterone or estrogen, and cholesterol

34
Q

Proteins

A
  1. Polymers of amino acids
  2. Shape is determined by its amino acid content, and its shape (conformation) determines function
  3. Has 4 levels of structure
35
Q

Amino acids

A
  1. Has amino group (NH2), carboxyl group (COOH), R group, and hydrogen atom
  2. R group creates the differences between amino acids
36
Q

Peptide bond

A
  1. Bonds amino acids. A chain of amino acids is a polypeptide. Polypeptides fold in on each other to create a protein.
  2. Form through dehydration synthesis between amino and carboxyl groups
37
Q

How is a protein denatured?

A
  1. Through heat, change in pH, or other disturbance

2. Changes its shape, and therefore it loses its ability to function.

38
Q

Primary structure of proteins

A

Genetically determined amino acid sequence, and is determined by the number, kind, and order of amino acids

39
Q

Secondary Structure

A
  1. 2 3D shapes formed by hydrogen bonding between polypeptide backbone
  2. Alpha is a coiled shape, beta is a pleated sheet
  3. Amino acids close to each other are interacting
40
Q

Tertiary Structure

A
  1. Reactions between R groups, amino acids that were far away can now interact
  2. Develops a complex shape
41
Q

Quaternary Structure

A
  1. Not every protein gets to this stage
  2. Polypeptide chains interact
  3. Hemoglobin is an example of this
42
Q

Chaperone proteins

A

Help proteins to fold

43
Q

Nucleic Acids

A
  1. Monomers are nucleotides
  2. Found in nucleus for DNA and cytoplasm for RNA of cells.
  3. Contain C, H, O, N, P
  4. Have directionality by 3 and 5 carbons of the sugar
44
Q

Nucleotides

A

Composed of nitrogenous base (C, T, G, A, or U), sugar (ribose or deoxyribose) and a phosphate group.

45
Q

RNA

A

Single stranded

46
Q

DNA

A

Double stranded, molecule of heredity

AP Bio (4 decks)

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