Molecules of Life

Question 0

Hydrocarbons

Answer 0

The simplest organic compounds, consisting of only C + H.

Question 1

Carbon - Organic Chemistry

Answer 1

Atomic Number = 6

4 electrons in outer shell, meaning molecules may form in complex shapes.

Question 2

Carbohydrates

Answer 2

Small sugars to long starch molecules.

Function: dietary energy; storage; plant structure.

Question 3

Monosaccharides

Answer 3

Simple sugars. Glucose, Fructose - same formula, different shape.

Question 4

Isomers

Answer 4

Molecules with same molecular formula, but different structure.

Question 5

Disaccharides

Answer 5

Double sugar - Maltose, Lactose, Sucrose.

Question 6

Polysaccharides

Answer 6

Long chains of sugar units. Starch, Cellulose.

Question 7

Lipids

Answer 7

Function: long-term energy storage (fats); hormones (steroids). Hydrophobic.

Question 8

Fats

Answer 8

Largely molecules of triglyceride.

Question 9

Saturated Fats

Answer 9

Max number of Hydrogen atoms. Animal fats, lard, butter. Solid at room temperature.

Question 10

Unsaturated Fats

Answer 10

Fewer than max number of Hydrogen atoms.

Vegetable oils, fish oils. Liquid at room temperature.

Question 11

Steroids

Answer 11

Structurally contained four fused rings.

Question 12

Cholesterol

Answer 12

“Base steroid”. Testosterone, Estrogen.

Question 13

Anabolic Steroids

Answer 13

Synthetic variants of testosterone.
Pro - fast body size increase
Cons - violent mood swings, depression, liver damage, high cholesterol, shrunken testicles, reduced sex drive, infertility

Question 14

Proteins

Answer 14

Chain of amino acids linked with peptide bonds (covalent) and folded into a specific shape.

Question 15

Amino Acid

Answer 15

Function: MANY! Structure, storage, contraction, transport, defense (antibodies), signaling, etc.
20 different amino acids exist - R-group.

Question 16

Nucleic Acids

Answer 16

Information storage molecules made of nucleotides.

Function: provide directions for building proteins.

Question 17

Nucleotides have three parts

Answer 17

Phosphate group - sugar - Nitrogenous base (in DNA - Adenine, Guanine, Thymine, Cytosine)