Unit 1 General Questions Flashcards
What is an anabolic reaction made possible by water’s polarity?
Condensation
What properties of water allow for it to travel from a tree’s roots to its leaves?
Cohesive and adhesive forces
Why is water so versatile as a solvent?
They are polar
- can form hydrogen bonds with hydrophilic / ionic things
Covalent bonds in water promote _______ between water and other molecules.
Hydrogen bonding
Define hydrogen bonding
Relatively weak bonds that only occur between adjacent water molecules
The ability for solid ice to float on liquid water is an example of?
Water’s unique density patterns due to hydrogen bonding
Name 3 things polarity in water contributes to
its high specific heat, thermal conductivity, and high heat of vaporization
Define specific heat
The amount of energy necessary to raise a substance’s temperature by one degree
Water has a ______ specific heat
High
- able to create stable temperatures for aquatic organisms
Define denitrification
process of reducing nitrate / nitrite to gaseous forms of nitrogen
-> like N2O and N2
How would a lack of nitrogen in the soil affect plants?
it would disable them from producing certain PROTEINS essential for life
True or false: hydrolysis releases energy
TRUE
- because bonds are being broken
- mitochondria produces the atp stored in the reactions
True or false: dehydration releases energy
FALSE
- requires energy (to form the bonds)
Define polypeptides
A continuous, unbranched chain of amino acids joined by peptide bonds.
Define peptide bonds
Bond formed between two molecules when the carboxyl group of one molecule reacts with the amino group of the other molecule, releasing a molecule of water (H2O)
- for amino acids
