Topic 2: Molecular Biology Flashcards
What is polarity?
The slight difference in charge that occurs at different poles of a molecule, the covalent bonds between O atom and H atoms are polar covalent bonds (water), electrons are not shared equally therefore water is polar.
What pole in water is slightly positive?
Hydrogen, H atoms have a weaker attracts electrons more strongly, forming a slightly positive charge.
What pole in water is slightly negative?
Oxygen, attracts electrons more strongly, forming a slightly negative charge.
What is hydrogen bonding in water?
Polarity of water allows it to form weak associations with other polar molecules or charged ions through hydrogen bonds, these bonds form when hydrogen atom is attracted to a fluorine, oxygen or nitrogen atom of another molecule.
When does cohesion occur?
When molecules of the same type are attracted to each other.
What does the hydrogen bonding in water molecules allow?
Allows liquids to resist low levels of external force which creates surface tension. High surface tension is sufficiently dense allowing smaller organisms to move along its surface.
What is adhesion?
Attraction between polarity of water and polar substances. Water molecules form hydrogen bonds between each other and polar molecules.
What is a solvent?
Liquid that dissolves solute
What is a solute?
Dissolves in liquid
What is a solution
Solvent and solute
What kind of substances are attracted to water?
Substances with a positive or negative charge - they can easily dissolve because of their ionic composition.
What is a ‘hydration shell’?
Water forms hydrogen bonds with solute which forms a hydration shell around a solute.
Why do polar molecules dissolve in water?
Because they are hydrophilic and form hydrogen bonds with water
What region of a solute is the positive water hydrogen atoms attracted to?
The negatively charged region
What region of a solute is the negative water oxygen atom attracted to?
The positively charged region
Why do charged ions dissolve in water?
Because they are hydrophilic
What is water electrostatically attracted to?
Ions
Why do non-polar or uncharged atoms not dissolve in water?
Because they are hydrophobic - these substances are insoluble
What is a metabolic medium?
Water is a medium for metabolic and enzyme manipulated reactions
What is water’s role in cytosol?
Water makes up 80% of the cytosol and contains salts, fatty acids, amino acids and proteins - water dissolves the reactants and enzymes for metabolism
What is transported in xylem from roots to leaves in vascular plants?
Dissolved mineral ions
What is transported in the phloem from source to sink?
Dissolved sugars produced in photosynthesis.
What is carried in animal blood plasma?
Dissolved solutes transported in solution around the body; salt ions, amino acids, proteins, glucose, waste products of metabolism, small amount of dissolved sugars
What is buoyancy?
Upward force on an object placed in or on it - depends on density, object density lower than fluid the object will float.