Biology Chapter 2 Flashcards

Elements

• Carbohydrates consist of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (CHO).
• Lipids are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (CHO).
• Proteins include carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen (CHON).
• Nucleic acids have carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus (CHONP).

Functional Groups

• Carbohydrates contain hydroxyl groups (OH).
• Lipids feature carboxyl groups (COOH) and hydrocarbon chains.
• Proteins include amino groups (NH2) and carboxyl groups (COOH).
• Nucleic acids consist of phosphate groups.

Phosphate Group Composition

• Made of a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogen base.

Main Functions of Biological Macromolecules

• Carbohydrates provide energy; simple carbs for short-term and complex carbs for long-term energy.
• Lipids serve structural functions, energy storage, and message transmission.
• Proteins have diverse roles: enzymes, structure, antibodies, transport, and energy.
• Nucleic acids store hereditary information and facilitate protein synthesis.

Examples of Biological Macromolecules

• Carbohydrates: glycogen, starch, glucose, bread.
• Lipids: cholesterol, sex hormones, milk, wax, butter, oils, steroids, beef, fats.
• Proteins: enzymes, hemoglobin.
• Nucleic acids: DNA, RNA.

Properties of Water

• Cohesion and surface tension cause water to form large, round drops due to molecules sticking together.
• Water adheres to dry surfaces (adhesion).
• The polar nature of water is due to uneven electron distribution, resulting in slight charges.

pH and Ion Concentration

• A solution with pH 9 has 1,000,000 times more hydroxide ions (OH-) than a solution with pH 3.
• If hydrogen ion concentration (H+) is increased by 100 times in a solution with pH 7.5, the pH drops to 5.5.

Enzyme Function

• Enzymes speed up reactions by lowering activation energy.
• Enzyme-substrate specificity involves a unique fit between each enzyme and its substrate, forming an enzyme-substrate complex.

Molecular Structures

• Triglycerides consist of one glycerol and three fatty acids; phospholipids have two fatty acids and a phosphate group.
• Glycerol is a component of triglycerides; fatty acids are long hydrocarbon chains.

Macromolecule Categories

• Dimer refers to two bonded monomers (e.g., dipeptides - 2 amino acids; disaccharides - 2 monosaccharides).
• Monomers (single sugars) like glucose and fructose are used for immediate energy.

Hydrolysis and Dehydration Synthesis

• Dehydration synthesis connects monomers into polymers while losing a water molecule.
• Hydrolysis breaks down polymers into smaller units by adding a water molecule.

Importance of Organic Molecules

• Carbohydrates and lipids are crucial for energy storage.
• Nucleic acids transmit and store genetic information.
• Proteins perform various functions including structural, enzymatic, and storage roles.

Characteristics of Saturated and Unsaturated Fats

• Saturated fats have straight hydrocarbon chains; unsaturated fats have bent chains due to carbon-carbon double bonds.

Lock and Key Analogy

• Enzymes (like keys) bind to specific substrates (locks) at an active site to facilitate reactions.
• Changes in temperature or pH can denature enzymes, preventing substrate attachment.

Organic vs. Inorganic Compounds

• Organic compounds contain carbon and hydrogen; inorganic do not.
• Examples: CH4 (organic), C6H14N4O2 (organic), C6H12O6 (organic), H2SO4 (inorganic).

Acidic and Basic Elements

• Acidic ion: H+ (hydrogen ion).
• Basic ion: OH- (hydroxide ion).

Catalyst Definition

• A catalyst is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction.