Unit 1: Chemistry Of Life Flashcards
Hydrogen bond
A weak bond between two molecules resulting from an electrostatic attraction between a proton and an electronegative atom
Polar
A molecule with partial charges due to unequal sharing of electrons
Nonpolar
A molecule with no partial charges; electrons are shared equally.
Covalent bond
A chemical bond formed by the sharing of one or more pairs of electrons between atoms.
Ionic bond
A chemical bond formed between two ions with opposite charges
pH
A scale used to specify the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution.
Buffers
Substances that minimize changes in pH by accepting or donating hydrogen ions
Macromolecules
Large molecules necessary for life, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids
Monomer
A molecule that can bond to other identical molecules to form a polymer.
Polymer
A large molecule composed of many repeated subunits (monomers).
Dehydration synthesis
A chemical reaction that builds up molecules by losing water molecules.
Hydrolysis
A chemical reaction that breaks down molecules by the addition of water
Enzyme
A biological catalyst that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction in living organisms.
Substrate
The reactant on which an enzyme works.
Active site
The region on an enzyme where the substrate binds
Denaturation
Loss of an enzyme’s native structure and function due to external stress or compounds
