Macromolecules, pH, and Elements Flashcards
What are the 4 macromolecules?
Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and Nucleic Acids
Compounds can be classified into 2 categories:
Organic and Inorganic
What type of compound contains carbon and hydrogen atoms?
Organic
What compounds can have either one or the other, but do not contain both carbon and hydrogen atoms?
Inorganic
Most of your body’s molecules are _______ compounds.
Organic
Define macromolecules
a molecule with a very large number of atoms to carry out biological and chemical functions
Large carbon compounds are built up from smaller simpler molecules called ________.
monomers (mono=one)
Monomers can bind to one another to form complex molecules known as _________.
polymers (poly=many)
A polymer consists of repeated, linked units, which can also bind forming large polymers called __________.
macromolecules (macro=large)
What chemical reaction do monomers link to form polymers?
Dehydration synthesis or condensation reaction
What happens during the formation of polymers? (dehydration synthesis)
Water (h2O) is released or is by-product of the reaction.
the process by which bonds are broken between each monomer within the polymer structure
hydrolysis
Hydrolysis is the ________ of a condensation reaction.
reverse
During hydrolysis, what can happen with the addition of water?
some polymers can break the bonds that hold them together
Which macromolecule is composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms in the proportion of 1:2:1?
Carbohydrates
What are the monomers of carbohydrates?
monosaccharides
Monosaccharides are simple sugars. Examples:
- Glucose: commonly found in blood of animals
- Galactose: a simple sugar found in milk
- Fructose: commonly found in fruit
Disaccharides contain 2 monosaccharides joined by …
dehydration synthesis
Examples of Disaccharides:
- Lactose: commonly found in milk, made up of Galactose + Glucose
- Sucrose: “table sugar”, transported in plants, made up of Fructose + Glucose
Define polysaccharides
carbohydrates formed from linking individual sugars into long chains
Examples of polysaccharides:
- Starch: a common storage form of glucose in plants
- Cellulose: a polysaccharide contained in the cell walls of plants; gives strength and rigidity to plant cells
- Glycogen: a common storage form of glucose in animals (stored in the muscles and liver to be used as quick energy)
Polymers of Carbohydrates
Disaccharides and Polysaccharides
structure of a carbohydrate
hexagon shaped
Which class of macromolecules do not dissolve in water and why?
lipids because they are a non-polar substance
Lipids serve three functions:
- Energy storage
- Structural support in cell membranes (phospholipids)
- Serve as reactants (starting materials) for metabolic reactions
Monomers of lipids
Fatty acid tails and glycerol
Saturated fatty acids have the maximum number of bonds and are usually…
full, solid at room temperature and most come from animal products
Unsaturated fatty acids have what kind of bonds in the carbon chain and are…
double bonds; are not full, liquid at room temp, and are aka oils
Saturated animal fats are associated with what
circulatory disorders; plant oils can be substituted for animal fats in the diet
What is a common lipid that contains fatty acids?
Triglycerides (glycerol linked to three fatty acids)
Polymers of lipids
Triglycerides, fats, oils, and wax
Structure of lipids
shape of an E
What elements make up lipids?
Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen (CHO)
What elements make up the organic compound, Protein?
Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen (CHON)
monomer of proteins
amino acids
What do enzymes do?
help control chemical reactions by acting as catalysts
How do catalysts speed up reactions?
by lowering activation energy
polymers of proteins
polypeptide
structure of proteins
shape of a globe
Define Nucleic Acids
complex organic molecules that store genetic information in the cell
Monomer of nucleic acids
Nucleotides
What do nucelotides consist of?
A sugar (pentose) + base (nitrogenous) + phosphate OR a 5-chain carbon, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base
What are the three types of nucleic acids?
DNA, RNA, ATP
What is dna?
the genetic information inside the nucleus of cells
What is RNA?
contains instructions which code for protein synthesis
What is ATP?
used as energy for the cell and has a slightly different structure than DNA and RNA. It contains a base + sugar + three phosphates
polymer of nucleic acids
DNA and RNA
What elements make up nucleic acids?
Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus(CHONP)
structure of nucleic acids
double helix (DNA) and half a helix (RNA)
Forms skin, blood, hair, and muscles
Proteins
Used for long-term energy storage
Lipids
Used for short-term energy storage
carbohydrates
define homeostasis
the maintenance of an internal environment separate from the rest of the world
The balance of homeostasis is maintained through…
feedback loops
type of feedback loops that are created when the outcome of a process creates more of that same outcome.
positive feedback loops
type of feedback loops that are created when the outcome of a process creates less of that same outcome.
Negative feedback loops
What must bonds do in order for macromolecules to be broken down by organisms?
the bonds holding the polymer must be broken apart
Monosaccharides can be linked together to create…
disaccharides and other polysaccharides to store chemical energy
Which property makes lipids a formidable macromolecule?
hydrophobia
uses of lipids
energy storage, insulation, and hormone transmission
There are more than ____ different amino acids found in nature
20
Amino acids are comprised of…
an amino group, an r-group, and a carboxyl group
side chains attached to the amino acid
r-groups
r-groups fall into 3 categories
nonpolar, polar, and electrically charged
How do you identify polar molecules?
Often has either an N, O, or P within the structure
How do you identify nonpolar molecules?
if it has C and H in the structure
the measurement and classification of substances based on the amount of hydrogen that the substances possess
pH scale
ranges of the pH scale
0-6: Acidic (ex. stomach acid)
7: Neutral (ex. water)
8-14: Basic (ex. drain cleaner)
Why are enzymes important?
they lower the energy required to maintain homeostasis
define neutralization
when acids and bases combine to create water (H+ + OH- = H2O)
As you go down the pH scale (i.e. 14 to 1), the concentration of H+ …
increases by 10; ex: if a substance with a pH of 5 has 1 proton, then a substance a pH of 4 will have 10 protons
the most basic and plentiful element in the universe found in almost every known chemical reaction, especially in biological ones.
hydrogen
One of the most stable and common elements on the periodic table, this element is used in conjunction with hydrogen to make up the backbone of life on this planet.
carbon
Serves as the backbone of a host of organic molecules. The most important of which is DNA.
nitrogen
we use this to breath and it is the second most abundant gas in our atmosphere, and key to the creation of energy on the planet.
oxygen
used by organisms to create several key proteins and macromolecules. is also key to the existence and creation of DNA.
Nitrogen
Which elements have their own cycle?
Nitrogen (The Nitrogen Cycle) and Phosphorus (The Phosphorus cycle)
Stages of the Nitrogen cycle
- Nitrogen Fixation: atmospheric nitrogen is converted into ammonia
- Nitrification: ammonia is converted into nitrate and nitrite
- Assimilation: nitrogen is taken in by organisms and is used to create proteins and other necessary macromolecules
- Dentification: after an organism dies (or creates waste) the nitrogen is released
Steps of Phosphorus cycle
- Weathering: Phosphorus is eroded from bedrock and makes its way into the soil and water
- Assimilation: when organisms uptake the phosphorus and incorporate it into their DNA and cells
- Deposition: After an organism dies (or creates waste) the phosphorus is deposited bak into the soil and continues the cycle
which element is a land-locked element and doesn’t return to a gas form?
phosphorus
