AP Bio Unit 1 Review

Organic Chemistry

• Study of carbon compounds, fundamental to understanding biological processes and compounds.

Hydrocarbons

• Organic molecules consisting solely of carbon and hydrogen atoms, foundational for many organic compounds.

Isomers

• Compounds with identical chemical formulas but differing structural configurations, leading to different properties.

Structural Isomers

• Variants that have the same molecular formula but differ in the arrangement of covalent bonds among atoms.

Geometric Isomers

• Compounds with the same formula but distinct spatial arrangements of substituents around a double bond, impacting their chemical reactivity.

Enantiomers

• Pair of molecules that are mirror images of each other, significant in pharmaceuticals due to differing biological effects.

Functional Groups

• Specific clusters of atoms within molecules that dictate how those molecules interact with other compounds.

Hydroxyl Group

• Denoted as -OH; characteristic of alcohols (e.g., ethanol), polar in nature, and contributes to hydrophilicity.

Carbonyl Group

• Functional group represented as -CO; found in key biological molecules including sugars and fats.

Aldehyde

• Organic compound where the carbonyl group is positioned at the end of the carbon chain.

Ketone

• Compound featuring a carbonyl group situated within the carbon skeleton, typically more stable than aldehydes.

Carboxyl Group

• Represented as -COOH; combines hydroxyl and carbonyl, exhibiting acidic properties.

Amino Group

• Identified as -NH2; plays a crucial role in the formation of amino acids and acts as a base.

Sulfhydryl Group

• Noted as -SH; important in protein structure and function through the formation of disulfide bonds.

Phosphate Group

• Denoted as -PO4; essential for energy transfer in cells and structural components of DNA and RNA.

Polymers and Monomers

• Polymers are large compounds made from numerous monomers, which are simple units capable of bonding to form larger structures.

Dehydration Synthesis

• A reaction involving the covalent bonding of two molecules accompanied by the removal of a water molecule, crucial for polymer formation.

Hydrolysis

• Reaction that involves adding water to break down macromolecules, reversing dehydration synthesis.

Carbohydrates

• Includes starches and sugars, serving as primary energy sources in food.

Monosaccharides

• Basic sugar units, the simplest form of carbohydrates (e.g., glucose).

Disaccharides

• Sugars composed of two monosaccharides linked together (e.g., sucrose).

Polysaccharides

• Large polymers formed from many monosaccharides; examples include starch, glycogen, and cellulose.

Glycosidic Linkage

• A covalent bond that forms between two monosaccharides through a dehydration reaction.

Starch

• Energy storage polysaccharide found in plants, composed entirely of glucose units.

Glycogen

• Highly branched polysaccharide for glucose storage in animal tissues, mainly found in liver and muscles.

Cellulose

• Structural polysaccharide made of glucose, forms cable-like fibers providing rigidity in plant cell walls.

Chitin

• A complex carbohydrate that forms the cell walls of fungi and is found in the exoskeletons of arthropods.

Lipids

• Diverse group of macromolecules primarily made of carbon and hydrogen; includes fats, oils, and waxes.

Fats

• Organic compounds with a structure of glycerol attached to three fatty acids, important for energy storage.

Saturated Fats

• Lipids with fatty acids containing no double bonds, typically solid at room temperature, commonly found in animal products.

Unsaturated Fats

• Lipids containing at least one double bond in fatty acids, usually liquid at room temperature, primarily found in plant oils.

Steroids

• A class of lipids composed of four carbon rings, serving various biological roles including hormone function.

Cholesterol

• A key steroid in animal cell membranes, acts as a precursor for other important steroids and hormones.

Proteins

• Macromolecules consisting of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, essential for growth, repair, and enzymatic functions.

Polypeptides

• Chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds, which fold into functional proteins.

Amino Acids

• Organic compounds with an amino group, a carboxylic acid group, and various side chains; 20 standard amino acids exist.

Peptide Bonds

• Bonds formed between amino acids through a dehydration reaction, creating polypeptides and proteins.