Monomers Flashcards
when elements combine they form?
compounds
compounds are held together by ?
chemical bonds
Whats the biggest difference between ionic and covalent bonds?
transferred electrons vs. shared electrons.
whats a molecule?
atoms joined together by covalent bonds. ex. water
are hydrogen bonds strong or weak?
weak. therefore, sometimes a water molecule splits to create 1 H+ ion and 1 OH- ion.
Does acidic water have more H+ ions or more OH- ions
H+ ions (acidic = pH below 7). Bases have more OH- ions (pH above 7).
What is the pH of human cells?
6.5 to 7.5 pH.
What 6 elements are found in living things?
Oxygen, carbon, phosphorus, sulfer, nitrogen, hydrogen
Why is carbon such a popular element?
It bonds with everything, even itself (forming double and triple covalent bonds)
Name 4 macromolecules found in living things?
carbs, lipids, nucleic acids and proteins.
Macromolecules are built by smaller units called?
monomers
monomers bond to form?
polymers
Are polymers always identical in a monomer?
sometimes they are but sometimes there as different as a beaded necklace
what are the monomers in carbs?
simple sugars called monosaccharides
3 examples of carbs
lactose (milk), glucose(sugar), and fructose (fruit)
whats the structural make up of carbs?
CHO (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen)
What are 3 functions of carbs.
store energy, release energy, structural support
what is a polysaccharide?
many monosaccharides joined together (such as glycogen - stored in our muscles)
Cellulose (which creates structure in a plant’s cell wall is an example of?
a polysaccharide
lipids are made up of which monomers?
- fatty acid chain (carbon and hydrogen bonded chain) and 2. glycerol molecule (an oxygen bonded with carbon and hydrogen) which attaches to the end of the fatty acid chain
whats the structural compound for lipids?
CHO
Name 3 examples of lipids?
fats (such as butter, oil), steroids, waxes
Name 4 functions of lipids?
store energy, insulate our bodies, protect our cell membranes. Plus, steroids act as chemical messengers
Nucleic acids are built from which monomers?
nucleotides
Whats the chemical structure for nucleic acids?
CHONP - 3 groups (nitrogen base, phosphate group (-PO4) and a 5 carbon sugar)
Examples of nucleic acids?
RNA, DNA
Functions of nucleic acids?
Store and transmit genetic info
Proteins are made of what monomers?
amino acids
What’s the chemical structure of proteins?
CHON (yes! there is nitrogen too)
Give some examples of proteins?
enzymes, hair, nails, receptors on the cells that signal the cell to react.
Give 4 functions of proteins?
- control the speed of a cell’s function, 2. fight diseases, 3. build cells, 4. transporting things to and from the cell.
How many types of amino acids are there?
20
How are amino acids bonded to other amino acids chemically?
covalent bonds which allows for long polypeptide groups
an individual amino acid is made up of what 3 groups?
- amino group (hydrogen and nitrogen). 2. R group (which carries its own unique chemical cocktail) and 3. carboxyl group (oxygen, carbon and hydrogen)
Proteins are the most diversified of the 4 macromolecules because of what reason?
The funky R group found in amino acids.
