Life at the Cellular Level 4 Flashcards
What does water being a polar molecule allow it to do?
Bathe our cells
Dissolve and transport compounds
Allows compounds to move within and between our cells
Participate in chemical reactions
Dissipate heat
Why is water polar?
Because O is more electronegative than H so it attracts the electrons of the covalent bond towards it causing partial charges
What kind of bonds can water form due to being polar?
Hydrogen bonds
What kind of molecules can form hydrogen bonds?
Any that contain electronegative atom bonded to H which is electropositive
What do hydrogen bonds determine due to linking molecules in precise patterns in space?
3D structure
Are bent or linear hydrogen bonds the strongest?
Linear
Are molecules that can form hydrogen bonds water soluble or insoluble?
Water soluble
What are some examples that can form hydrogen bonds?
Sugars
Alcohols
Aldehydes
Ketones
Compounds with N-H groups
What happens when molecules with hydrogen bonds are dissolved in water?
Water-water hydrogen bonds and solute-solute hydrogen bonds are replaced with more energetically favourable solute-water hydrogen bonding
Why are O2 and CO2 poorly water soluble?
O=O and O=C=O have no polarity
End molecules in the straight line are the same so no partial charge
Why is O2 carried by haemoglobin and CO2 floats around as bicarbonate?
Because they are poorly water soluble
Are charged molecules water soluble?
Yes, water forms ‘screens’ around each ion
What is the hydrophobic effect?
Tendency of nonpolar substances to aggregate in an aqueous solution and exclude water molecules
How do non polar molecules arrange themselves in water?
To minimise disruption of hydrogen bonding amount surrounding water molecules, because this is the most energetically favourable arrangement
What does amphipathic mean?
Contains both hydrophobic and hydrophillic parts
How do phospholipids minimise water-water hydrogen bonding?
By forming bilayers
Why do proteins fold in on themselves?
So hydrophobic regions are on the inside and hydrophillic are on the outside, allowing them to be water soluble
How are hydrophobic lipids transported in the blood?
In a chylomicron (phospholipid surface, triacylglycerols stored inside)