UNIT TWO: CHEMISTRY COMES ALIVE Flashcards
DISTINGUISH THE FOUR ELEMENTS THAT MAKE UP MOST OF THE BODY
Oxygen, Carbon, Nitrogen, and hydrogen. These elements make up 96% of the body, 9 other elements make up 3.9%, and 11 others make up the remaining 0.01%
DISTINGUISH BETWEEN KINETIC AND POTENTIAL ENERGY
→ kinetic: Is energy in action, created by molecules bumping into each other. Heat is a result of kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is generated when gradients occur in the body, or the body is in motion.
→ potential: potential energy is inactive energy, or energy that has the potential to do work. An example of this is the chemical bonds in fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and alcohols.
COMPARE COVALENT, IONIC, AND HYDROGEN BONDS
→ ionic: are formed through the exchange of electrons, one gains and one loses. Ions are incredibly important for homeostasis (sodium, potassium, calcium, etc.). Ions are also called electrolytes because they have the ability to conduct electricity.
→ covalent: covalent bonds are formed through the sharing of electrons, this makes them incredibly strong and stable.
→ hydrogen: aren’t true bonds and are relatively weak compared to ionic and covalent bonds. It is a weak attraction between a positive hydrogen and another negative ion.
DEFINE ACIDS, BASES, AND PH
→ acids: are proton donors, they have high levels of hydrogen (hydronium, H3O). They have a pH of 5 or below. Important acids include hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, and carbonic acid (blood buffer system).
→ bases: are proton acceptors, have high hydroxide levels. They have a PH of 5 or higher. Important bases include bicarbonate (blood buffer system) and ammonia.
→ PH: the PH scale measures the concentration of hydrogen in a solution. It is a logarithmic scale meaning it increases by 10 fold each time.
EXPLAIN MONOMERS, POLYMERS, HYDROLYSIS, AND DEHYDRATION SYNTHESIS
monomers: single unit
polymer: many monomers put together to make a larger unit made up of multiple smaller units (monomers)
hydrolysis: breaks apart polymers into monomers
dehydration synthesis: makes polymers with monomers
EXPLAIN CARBOHYDRATES
→ carbohydrates: it’s main function is energy storage, but also has some structural functions like recognition proteins on cell surfaces.
Monomer: monosaccharides (single sugar unit). Ex. Glucose and ribose
→ disaccharides: 2 units of sugar. Ex. lactose and sucrose. Are too big to pass through cell membranes.
Polymer: polysaccharides (multiple sugar units). Ex. starch and glycogen. They are mainly used for storage as they are too large to enter cell membranes and for transport. Are not very soluble.
EXPLAIN LIPIDS
→ lipids: main function is energy storage, insulation, and protection. Does not have polymers because it is not soluble in water. The main types are triglycerides, phospholipids, steroids, and eicosanoids.
Triglycerides: have a head and 3 lipid tail structure. Their main function is energy storage. They can be saturated (single bonds in lipid tails, making them compact) or unsaturated (triple or double bonds in lipid tails, making them more loose and liquid)
Phospholipids: main function is to act as a membrane for cells. They are a modified triglyceride with a polar head and 2 lipid tails. Phospholipids are not bonded together and are actually choosing to stay close to one another for energy efficiency.
Steroids: have 4 interlocking ring structures, they are also non-polar. They are important for vitamin D synthesis. Most important steroid is CHOLESTEROL, which regulates plasma fluidity in cell membranes.
Eicosanoids: are derived from fatty acids in cell membranes. Most important eicosanoid is PROSTAGLANDINS. They assist with BP, inflammation, labour contractions, blood clotting, etc.
WHY DO CARBOHYDRATES HAVE POLYMERS BUT LIPIDS DON’T
carbohydrates are water soluble, and can thus make polymers (dehydration synthesis entire thing is removing water from molecule to make bonds). lipids are not water soluble, and so they cannot make polymers.
EXPLAIN PROTEINS
→ proteins: include aid in transport (hemoglobin), structure (collagen), enzymes, contractile functions (myosin and actin), and defense (antibodies).
Monomer: amino acids (20 different types, including 20 different R groups)
Polymer: amino acid chains formed by peptide bonds
Amino acids have 4 levels that determine function and structures
Primary: amino acid chain
Secondary: how the chain behaves, either making alpha helix structure or beta pleated sheets
Tertiary: how the secondary structures interact with one another (making globular structure)
Quaternary: how different polypeptides (2 or more) interact to make a functioning protein
EXPLAIN NUCLEIC ACIDS
→ nucleic acids
Monomer: nucleotides (adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine)
Polymer: DNA and RNA
DESCRIBE HOW ATP DRIVES CELLULAR WORK
The bonds within ATP hold potential energy. When a phosphate breaks off energy is released. This is done through hydrolysis. Essentially, ATP becomes ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and energy is released in the process. This creates immediate and efficient energy for cells to use.
