Topic 1B- More Biological Molecules Flashcards
What is meant by water is a good metabolite?
It’s used in lots of many metabolic reactions such as hydrolysis and condensation reactions
Why is water a good solvent?
It is polar so the oxygen is slightly negatively charged and the hydrogen is slightly positively charged
What is meant by water helps control temperature?
It has a high latent heat of vaporisation so takes a long time to cool and heat up, this is due to the hydrogen bonds being very strong so need a lot of energy to be overcome
What is meant by water is cohesive?
The water molecules stick together which helps water transport in plants
Why is high latent heat of vaporisation helpful?
So living organisms can use water loss through evaporation to cool down without losing too much water.
Why is it useful that water buffers changes in temperature?
Because water doesn’t experience rapid changes in temperature, the temperature underwater will likely be more stable and the water inside organisms will also be fairly stable helping them to maintain a constant internal body temperature
Explain water being a good solvent
Because it’s polar, the oxygen atoms are slightly negative so a positive ion will become completely surrounded by water molecules and will dissolve, the hydrogen atoms are slightly positive so a negative ion will become completely surrounded and dissolve as well
How is strong cohesion useful?
Strong cohesion helps water to flow making it great for transporting substances
What is ATP made up of?
3 phosphate groups, ribose sugar and adenine
The hydrolysis of ATP
ATP ➡️ ADP+Pi (+energy)
Energy is released, the enzyme ATP hydrolase catalyses the reaction
The condensation of ADP+Pi
ADP+Pi (+energy) ➡️ ATP
Requires energy, enzyme ATP synthase catalyses the reaction
What’s an inorganic ion?
An ion that doesn’t contain carbon
What does iron do?
Binds oxygen to haemoglobin in the red blood cells
What do hydrogen ions do?
Determine PH
