Unit 1: Chemistry of Life Flashcards

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1
Q

the makeup of H2O

A
  • polar molecule that can form hydrogen bonds
  • covalent bonds between oxygen and hydrogen atoms; oxygen has a higher electronegativity so the electrons gravitate towards the oxygen = POLAR covalent bond
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2
Q

properties of water

A

1) cohesive/adhesive behavior: water is STICKY
2) high specific heat: more energy required to separate water molecules during phase changes
3) moderating climate: high heat capacity –> ability to absorb and release high amounts of energy
4) expansion upon freezing: ice floats on water, ice insulates water beneath it
5) solvent of life: partially positive and negative ends allow it to dissolve ionic compounds

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3
Q

pH

A
  • pH: power of Hydrogen = concentration of H+ ions in solution
  • pH = -log[H+]
  • acidic: less than 7 (more H+)
  • basic: more than 7 (more OH-)
  • neutral: 7 (water)
  • buffers: maintain constant pH levels by forming acids or bases
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4
Q

biological macromolecules

A
  • primarily made of CHONPS: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur
  • structure and function of a macromolecule is determined by the monomers it’s made from
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5
Q

carbon

A

“backbone” of macromolecules; found in all macromolecules; very versatile in how it bonds to other atoms; four valence electrons & single, double, or triple bonds

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6
Q

hydrogen

A

one valence electron & one bond; found in all macromolecules; sometimes not drawn in (but always there)

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7
Q

oxygen

A

six valence electrons & two bonds, found in all types of macromolecules

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8
Q

nitrogen

A

five valence electrons & three bonds; found in nucleic acids and proteins

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9
Q

phosphorus

A

five valence electrons & three bonds; found in nucleic acids and lipids

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10
Q

sulfur

A

six valence electrons & two bonds; typically found in proteins

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11
Q

dehydration synthesis

A

links monomers to form larger molecules by taking an H & HO to form a separate H2O molecule

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12
Q

hydrolysis

A

separates monomers by distributing the H & HO from an H2O molecule

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13
Q

carbohydrates

A
  • made of monosaccharides
  • store energy or have structural functions; linkages determine function
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14
Q

lipids

A
  • nonpolar
  • energy storage, cell membranes, insulation
  • made of fatty acids
  • include phospholipids and steroids
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15
Q

phospholipids

A
  • glycerol molecule + two fatty acids + phosphate group
  • have both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions
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16
Q

nucleic acids

A
  • made of nucleotides
  • carry genetic info
  • consist of 5-carbon sugar, nitrogenous base, and phosphate group
  • directionality: phosphate group attached to 5’ carbon side and 3’ carbon has hydroxyl group for new nucleotides to be added to
17
Q

proteins

A
  • made of amino acids
  • primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structure
  • enzyme catalysis, maintaining cell structure, cell signaling, cell recognition
18
Q

amino acids

A
  • amino group + carboxylic acid group + hydrogen atom + R-group
19
Q

R-group

A

unique for each amino acid; determines amino acid’s identity

20
Q

primary structure

A
  • amino acids joined by peptide bonds
  • directionality: amino (NH2) terminus and carboxyl (COOH) terminus
  • order of amino acids determines primary structure
21
Q

secondary structure

A

hydrogen bonds form between adjacent amino acids, forming secondary structure; includes alpha helixes and beta-plated sheets

22
Q

tertiary structure

A
  • 3D folded protein, determined by hydrophobic/hydrophilic interactions between R-groups
  • most stable: hydrophilic R-group son the surface and hydrophobic R-groups on the inside
23
Q

quaternary structure

A
  • multiple polypeptide chains joined together to complete protein
24
Q

DNA

A
  • sugar: deoxyribose
  • nitrogenous bases: adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine
  • structure: double-stranded helix
  • function: holds genetic info
  • location: usually found in nucleus
25
Q

RNA

A
  • sugar: ribose
  • nitrogenous bases: adenine, uracil, cytosine, guanine
  • structure: usually single-stranded, but can form 3D structure when folded
  • function: transcribes and regulations the expression of genetic info
  • location: nucleus and cytoplasm
26
Q

pyrimidines

A
  • class of macromolecules that includes thymine, uracil, and cytosine
27
Q

purines

A
  • class of macromolecules that includes adenine and guanine
28
Q

pyrimidine + purine bonds

A
  • when DNA strands form, a purine complements a pyrimidine and forms hydrogen bonds
  • thymine + adenine = 2 H-bonds
  • guanine + cytosine = 3 H-bonds