Molecules of Life Flashcards
Define an organic compound
Organic compounds are usually large and always contain carbon. They are responsible for chemical reactions that make life possible
List five important organic compunds
▫ Carbohydrates ▫ Lipids ▫ Proteins ▫ Nucleic acids ▫ Adenosine triphosphate
Why is carbon so important?
• It is the chief component of organic structures
• It can bond with up to 4 other atoms
• It can form long chains and ring-like structures acting like a skeleton to which other atoms can bind
• Can produce countless different compounds with
unique structures and functions
Describe polymerisation
Polymers are created when identical or similar monomers join together creating large molecules called macromolecules
Carbohydrates are divided into which three main groups?
- Monosaccharides
- Disaccharides
- Polysaccharides
List five monosaccharides
- Glucose
- Fructose
- Galactose
- Deoxyribose
- Ribose
What elements make up carbohydrates?
- Carbon
- Hydrogen
- Oxygen
List the main disaccharides
- Sucrose (glucose + fructose)
- Lactose (glucose + galactose)
- Malatose (glucose + glucose)
Important polysaccharides include?
- Glycogen
- Starch
- Cellulose
Describe the structure of ATP
Adenosine plus three phosphate groups
Describe the structure of nucleic acid
Formed by monomers called nucleotides including:
A pentose sugar
A phosphate group
Nitrogenous base
Describe the structure of proteins
Constructed by monomers of amino acids joined together with peptide bonds
List the functions of proteins
- Structural
- Regulatory
- Contractile
- Immunology
- Transport
- Catalytic
