Unit 2: Basic Chemistry and Biological Macromolecules Flashcards
basic unit of matter
atom
Attractions between atoms that hold atoms and molecules together
chemical bonds
strongest chemical bond. Electrons are shared.
covalent bonds
A measure of the tendency of an atom to attract a bonding pair of electrons. How strongly does an atom attract bonding electrons to itself?
Electronegativity
Subatomic particle, located in shells on the outside of the nucleus, has a negative charge
Electron
Weak chemical bond. Occurs between atoms in different molecules or parts of molecules. Weak electrostatic attraction between areas of molecules with opposite partial charges.
Hydrogen bonds
Moderately strong chemical bond. Occurs between atoms in the same molecule. Electrons transfer from one atom to another.
Ionic Bonds
Subatomic particle, located in the nucleus, with a positive charge. Mass of one amu.
proton
Subatomic particle, electrically neutral, located in the nucleus. Mass of one amu
Neutron
The attraction between water molecules and other molecules.
adhesion
Water molecules are attracted to each other, keeping the molecules together.
cohesion
Substances that will dissolve in water. Polar. They split into positive and negative ions and dissolve in water. Examples: sugars and alcohols.
hydrophillic
Substances that do not dissolve in water. Non-polar. Examples: hydrocarbons and fatty acids.
hydrophobic
The capacity of a liquid’s surface to resist being ruptured when placed under tension or stress.
surface tension
dissolved substance
solute
Homogeneous mixtures, with 2 components: solvent and solutes.
solutions
dissolving substance
solvent
Building block of proteins. A small organic chemical that is made up of four parts. One end has nitrogen-amino group, other end has carboxylic acid groups linked by a single carbon atom called the alpha carbon, and the variable ‘R group’ also attached to the alpha carbon.
amino acid
Biological macromolecule. Sugars. Essential for energy storage, cellular communication and structural support. Store energy; provide structural support; facilitate communication
carbohydrates
Proteins that catalyze chemical reactions by accelerating the rate at which chemical reactions take place in a cell. Ex: Amylase protein.
enzyme
aldohexose monosaccharide (chemical formula: C6H12O6) that is ubiquitous in nature, and functions primarily as the main source of metabolic energy (the main substrate in glycolysis) in living things.
glucose
Molecules like water, oxygen gas, carbon dioxide, and ionic salts. Relatively stable, simple, and store little chemical energy.
inorganic molecules
Biological macromolecules. Fatty acids. Essential for energy storage and maintaining a boundary between the living organism and its environment. Provide energy (long term); serve as structural components of membranes
lipids
monomer
A monomer unit and monomer have the same meaning. We can define “monomer” in biology as any of those organic compounds that can react with other similar compounds to form a very large molecule (known as a polymer).
Simple sugars. 1 sugar subunit. Glucose: many plants and fruits, honey, sports drinks. Fructos: fruit, honey, sweetener in many processed foods.
monosaccharide
Any molecule that contains a carbon to hydrogen covalent bond. Often complex and many store a lot of chemical potential energy. Examples: glucose, methane, DNA, protein and fat.
organic molecules
Type of Lipid. Provides structure to cell membranes; a protective barrier surrounding the cell or separating compartments and forming organelles within the cell. Ex: lipid bilayer membrane.
phospholipids
Made from monomers linked by chemical bonds. They are produced by polymerization and occur either naturally or synthetically. Examples of natural polymers are cellulose, shellac and amber.
polymer
Complex carbohydrates. 3 or more sugar subunits. Starch: plants and roots, potatoes, wheat, corn, rice. Cellulose: plants.
polysaccharide
Biological macromolecules. Amino acids. Essential for carrying out most of the necessary functions of life. Serve as structural components of tissues; facilitate and speed up biochemical reactions (enzymes); participate in communication
protein
the physical process by which a linear polypeptide folds into its characteristic and functional three-dimensional structure. Folding of a polypeptide chain is strongly influenced by the solubility of the AA R-groups in water. Each protein exists as an unfolded polypeptide or random coil when translated from a sequence of mRNA to a linear chain of amino acids.
protein folding
Type of lipid. Provides structure to membranes; regulates many developmental, metabolic and energy processes. Ex: Cholesterol; naturally occurring hormones like estrogen and testosterone.
steroids
Type of lipid. Forms protective layers on plants and animals that repel water. Ex” Beeswax, bird feathers, carnauba wax, jojoba oil, lanolin.
waxes
the genetic material that stores information for making proteins in all living organisms. Stores and transmits inherited genetic information; and contains the coded directions for making proteins
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
Transmits the information coded in the DNA so that it can be used to produce proteins.
RNA (ribonucleic acid)
Biological macromolecules. Nucleotides. Essential for information storage within a cell and passing on this information to the next generation. Examples: DNA. Store genetic information, used in protein synthesis.
nucleic acid
nucleotide
nucleotide
