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Biochemistry for Nursing > Unit 1: Water and pH > Flashcards

Unit 1: Water and pH Flashcards

1
Q

The most important and abundant inorganic compound in all living systems.

A

Water

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2
Q

Why do nearly all the body’s chemical reactions occur in a watery medium?

A

Water has many properties that make it an indispensable compound of life.

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3
Q

The important property of water.
The uneven sharing of valence electrons that confers a partial negative charge near the one oxygen atom and two partial positive charges near two hydrogen atoms in a water molecule

A

Polarity

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4
Q

What causes the versatility of water as a solvent for ionized or polar substances?

A

Water’s polar covalent bonds

bent shape

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5
Q

What does water’s polar covalent bond and bent shape do that makes it good as a solvent?

A

It allows each water molecule to interact with several neighboring ions or molecules.

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6
Q

Composed of solvent and solute

A

Solution

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7
Q

Dissolves the solute

A

Solvent

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8
Q

Being dissolved by the solvent

A

Solute

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9
Q

Solutes that are charged or contain polar covalent bonds are what?

A

Hydrophilic. (Which means they easily dissolve in water.)

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10
Q

Examples of hydrophilic solutes

A

Sugar and Salt

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11
Q

Molecules that contain mainly non-polar covalent bonds are what?

A

Hydrophobic

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12
Q

Examples of hydrophobic compounds

A

Animal fats and Vegetable oil

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13
Q

Why is the ability of water to form solutions essential to health and survival?

A

Because water can dissolve many substances, it is an ideal medium for metabolic reactions.

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14
Q

Water as a solvent enables ______.

A

Dissolved reactants to collide and form products.

Dissolves waste products.

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15
Q

Decomposition reactions break down large nutrient molecules into smaller molecules.
“To loosen or break apart”
A type of reaction that enables dietary nutrients to be absorbed into the body.

A

Hydrolysis

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16
Q

A product that is formed during dehydration synthesis reaction

A

Water Molecule

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17
Q

What does it mean that water has a high heat capacity?

A

Because it can absorb or release a relatively large amount of heat with only a modest change in it’s own temperature.

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18
Q

Why does water have a high heat capacity?

A

Large number of hydrogen bonds.

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19
Q

Water is a major component of _____ and other _______ throughout the body.

A

Mucus, Lubricating fluids

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20
Q

Where is lubrication especially necessary inside the body?

A

Chest (Pleural and Pericardial Cavities)

Abdomen (Peritoneal Cavity)

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21
Q

Why is lubrication especially necessary in the chest, abdomen, and joints?

A

Because this is where internal organs touch and slide over one another, and where bones, ligaments, and tendons rub against one another (joints)

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22
Q

When inorganic acids, bases, or salts dissolve in water, they what?

A

Dissociate

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23
Q

The separation of acids, bases, or salts into ions and become surrounded by water molecules.

A

Dissociate

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24
Q

Acid dissociates into what?

A

One or more hydrogen ions (H+)

One or more anions

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25
What is acid also referred as?
A proton donor
26
Why is acid also referred to as a proton donor?
Because H+ is a single proton with one positive charge.
27
What is a base also referred to as?
A proton acceptor
28
Why are bases also referred to as proton acceptor?
Because a base removes H+ from a solution
29
The protons (H+) donated by an acid combine with the water molecules combine what?
Hydronium ions (H30+)
30
A base receives protons from water molecules. The water molecules then become what?
Hydroxide ions (OH-)
31
To ensure homeostasis, ______.
Intracellular and extracellular fluids must contain almost balanced quantities of acids and bases.
32
The more hydrogen ions (H+) dissolved in the solution,
The more acidic the solution
33
The more hydroxide ions (OH-) dissolved in the solution,
The more basic (alkaline) the solution
34
The chemical reactions inside the body are sensitive to small changes in acidity or alkalinity of the body fluids. Is this true or false?
True
35
The pH scale extends from what numbers?
0 - 14
36
What is the scale based on?
The concentration of H+ in moles per liter.
37
What is the pH of pure water?
7 (Neutral)
38
What will be the pH of a solution that has more H+ than OH-?
Below 7 (Acidic)
39
What will be the pH of a solution that has more OH- than H+
Above 7 (Basic)
40
What is the pH of blood maintained by homeostatic mechanisms?
7.35 and 7.45
41
Saliva is known to be slightly?
Acidic
42
Semen is known to be slightly?
Basic
43
Urine can be quite acidic because?
The kidneys help remove excess acid from the body.
44
Chemical compounds that can convert strong acids or bases into weak ones. Consist of a weak acid and its conjugate base Cause a solution to resist changes in pH when hydrogen ions or hydroxide ions are added
Buffer systems
45
Why do weak acids or bases have less effect on the pH?
Because they do not ionize as much and contribute fewer H+/OH-.
46
Blood pH falls below 7.35 Increased acid production in the body Decreased acid excretion and increased excretion of base
Acidosis
47
Blood pH falls above 7.45 Electrolyte disturbances Administration or consumption of base Hyperventilation
Alkalosis
48
Major Buffer system in the body
Bicarbonate-Carbonic Acid Buffer System Hemoglobin Buffer System Phosphate Buffer System
49
In this buffer system, Carbonic acid (H2CO3) can act as a weak acid, and the bicarbonate ion (HCO3) can act as a weak base.
Carbonic Acid-Bicarbonate Buffer System
50
In Carbonic Acid-Bicarbonate Buffer System, what acts as a weak acid?
Carbonic Acid (H2CO3)
51
In Carbonic Acid-Bicarbonate Buffer System, what acts as a weak base?
Bicarbonate ion (HCO3)
52
Major source of metabolic acid in the body
Carbon Dioxide
53
In lean adults, body fluids constitute how much of the total body mass?
55% for females | 60% for males
54
Body fluids are present in two main compartments which are?
Intracellular | Extracellular
55
What makes up the Extracellular fluid?
``` Interstitial Fluid (80%) Plasma (20%) ```
56
What are the two "barriers" that separate intracellular fluid, interstitial fluid, and blood plasma?
Plasma membrane | Blood Vessel walls
57
Allows the continual exchange of water an solutes among body fluid compartments
Process of filtration Diffusion Osmosis
58
The primary means of water movement between intracellular fluid and interstitial fluid
Osmosis
59
What determines the direction of water movement?
The concentration of solutes in the fluids (due to osmosis)
60
What is the main source of body water?
``` Ingested liquids (about 1600 mL) Moist foods (about 700 mL) Metabolic Water (about 200 mL) ```
61
The volume of metabolic water formed in the body depends on what?
The level of aerobic respiration
62
When water loss is greater than water gain
Dehydration
63
A major hormone that regulates water loss
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
64
Cells normally neither shrink or swell because?
Intracellular fluids and interstitial fluids have the same osmolarity.
65
An increase in the osmolarity of interstitial fluid results to what?
Draws out water from the cells and they shrink slightly..
66
A decrease in the osmolarity of interstitial fluid results to what?
Swelling of cells
67
Changes in osmolarity most often results from what?
Changes in the concentration of Na+
68
A state in which excessive water causes cell to swell dangerously.
Water intoxication
69
What are the four general functions of the ions formed when electrolytes dissolve and dissociate?
Certain ions control the osmosis of water between fluid compartments Ions help maintain the acid-base balance required for cell activities Ions carry electrical current that allows production of action potentials and graded potentials Several ions serve as cofactors needed for optimal activity of enzymes

Biochemistry for Nursing (10 decks)

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