Structure and Function of Major Compounds

Question 1

alipathic

Answer 1

an organic compound with a straight or branched chain structure

Question 2

-ane

Answer 2

single bond

Question 3

-ene

Answer 3

double bonds

Question 4

iso-

Answer 4

prefix when 2 carbons are bonded to another carbon, forming a branch which is an isomer of the straight chain compound

Question 5

-yl

Answer 5

implies a side group

Question 6

methyl group

Answer 6

important in determining whether or not a gene will be expressed, it makes the DNA less accessible

Question 7

how are carbons numbered?

Answer 7

the first carbon is the one most oxidized

Question 8

aromatic hydrocarbons

Answer 8

hydrocarbons that contain a ring structure; electrons are shared equally and are non-polar

Question 9

functional groups

Answer 9

structures bonded to the carbon chain, usually b/w carbon and oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, or phosphate groups and tend to be polar + reactive

Question 10

oxidation

Answer 10

loss of electrons (loss of H or gain of O)

Question 11

reduction

Answer 11

gain of electrons (gain of H or loss of O)

Question 12

-ate

Answer 12

indicates negatively charged; an anion

Question 13

charged groups

Answer 13

• acidic groups dissociate at the physiological pH and exist as anions
• carboxylic acids are weak acids, they have a conj. base existing in equilibrium, w/ the acid

Question 14

phosphate

Answer 14

very important and common functional group; so common that is usually just abbreviated by P, as in glucose 6-P; makes more hydrophillic; soluble

Question 15

amines

Answer 15

compounds w/ nitrogen usually basic w/ a +ve charge; if the N has 3 bonds it is neutral (there are 2 remaining electrons in nitrogen’s valence shell, if they form a bond w/ a carbon atom or hydrogen ion, the N has a +ve charge)

Question 16

electronegativity

Answer 16

O, N, S > C in terms of electronegativity; like water, they form polar bonds and b/c of that substances w/ groups containing these elements are hydrophilic

Question 17

reactivity of polar molecules

Answer 17

partial +ve charges on carbon molecules attract negatively; carboxylic acids tend to react w/ a # of compounds, expelling water in a condensation rxn

Question 18

esters & amids

Answer 18

formed through condensation reactions; CO2 is the anhydride form of carbonic acid

Question 19

monosaccharides

Answer 19

have 3 or more C atoms, w/ a ketone or aldehyde group and hydroxyl groups: CnH2nOn

Question 20

D-sugars

Answer 20

sugars with the highest numbered chiral carbon with the -OH group on the right (most sugars in human tissues)

Question 21

L-sugars

Answer 21

sugars with the highest numbered chiral carbon with the -OH group on the left; most proteins are made with these; ALL

Question 22

ring structure

Answer 22

the ring structures at the bottom are the most common form of monosaccharides in solution; the carbonyl carbon reacts w/ a hydroxyl group in the same molecule, the oxygen from the hydroxyl group becomes part of the carbon ring

Question 23

anomeric carbon

Answer 23

the new chiral center formed in ring closure; it was the carbon containing the carbonyl in the straight-chain form

Question 24

anomers of cyclic glucose

Answer 24

exist in equilibrium w/ the straight-chain form in solution; the OH group on the anomeric carbon can react w/ an -OH or an -NH group on another molecule; these are glycosidic bonds and can be alpha or beta

Question 25

fatty acids

Answer 25

chains of carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms; shorter-chained fatty acids are more water soluble

Question 26

triglycerides

Answer 26

aka triaglycerols; glycerol + 3 fatty acids, joined together through ester linkages

Question 27

free radicals

Answer 27

have a single electron and exist in solution independently; many compounds can be turned into free radicals when one of their electrons is removed (radiation can also create free radicals

Question 28

Saturated

Answer 28

contains carbons all linked through single bonds

Question 29

Unsatturated

Answer 29

contains carbon-carbon double or tripple bonds