Exam 1 Flashcards
What are the four major classes of organic molecules in living organisms?
Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids
What is an important characteristic of covalent bonds?
They store a lot of energy
What are hydrocarbons?
Molecules consisting of carbon and hydrogen atoms
Are hydrocarbons polar or nonpolar?
Nonpolar, and when functional groups are added, they confer chemical properties to the molecule.
When are triple bonds found in hydrocarbons?
Only in two-carbon hydrocarbons such as ethyne
When are single and double bonds found in hydrocarbons?
In linear and ring hydrocarbons
What are some general structures of hydrocarbons?
Linear unbranched chain, linear branched chain, or a structure with one or more rings
Match the bond type to the molecule: single, double, triple and ethane, ethene, and ethyne
Ethane- single, ethene- double, ethyne- triple
Which functional groups are most commonly found in biological reactions?
Hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, amino, phosphate, and sulfhydryl groups, which are linked by covalent bonds to other atoms in the molecule (usually represented by R)
Are lipids polar or nonpolar?
Primarily nonpolar and water-insoluble
List the three common types of lipid molecules and their function
Neutral lipids- stored and used as an energy source
Phospholipids- form cell membranes
Steroids- serve as hormones regulating cellular activities
True or false: neutral lipids have no charged groups (nonpolar)
True
What are the two types of neutral lipids?
Oils (liquid at biological temperatures) and fats (semisolid)
What is a fatty acid? Is it polar or nonpolar?
A fatty acid has a single hydrocarbon chain with a carboxyl (COOH) group at one end. The carboxyl group gives organic molecules acidic properties because the -OH group releases the H as a proton in aqueous solutions, turning it into an ionized form. Fatty acids are nonpolar.
How are triglycerides formed?
Formed through a process called dehydration synthesis between 3-carbon glycerol (an alcohol) and three fatty acid side chains. A covalent bond called the ester linkage forms between the COOH fatty acid and the OH of glycerol, which eliminates the polar group of glycerol and forms a nonpolar molecule
What is the hydroxyl group and what are some of its properties/applications?
Hydroxyl (–OH) can be found in molecules like alcohols. It is polar and hydrogen bonds with water, which facilitates dissolving of organic molecules. It allows an alcohol to link with other molecules through dehydration synthesis reactions.
Where is the ester linkage in triglycerides located?
Between the O in glycerol and the C in the fatty acid
How many molecules of water are formed through formation of triglycerides?
3
What roles do triglycerides play?
Serve as energy reserves in animals because they can store more than 2x the calories per gram as carbohydrates.
A layer of fatty tissue under skin acts as insulation in mammals and birds.
Triglycerides also help make bird feathers waterproof
What is a typical number of carbons in a fatty acid?
14 to 22; as chain length increases, the fatty acid becomes less water soluble and more oily
What is a saturated fatty acid? Where are they found?
A fatty acid that binds the maximum number of hydrogen atoms, meaning only single bonds exist between carbon atoms. These fatty acids can be found in solid animal fats such as butter
What are mono and polyunsaturated fats?
Fatty acids with one double bond are mono; acids with 2 or more are polyunsaturated.
Why are unsaturated fatty acids usually fluid at biological temperatures?
The presence of double bonds causes “bends” in the structure that mean the molecules cannot pack as tightly together.
Which are healthier- saturated or unsaturated fats?
Unsaturated fats.