Chapter 2 Basic Chemistry

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Questions and Answers

Which element constitutes the largest percentage of the human body's mass?

Nitrogen

Carbon

Oxygen (correct)

Hydrogen

What role does nitrogen play in the human body?

It regulates blood pH levels.

It is a component of proteins and nucleic acids. (correct)

It is involved in glucose oxidation.

It is essential for muscle contraction.

Which of the following elements is primarily involved in energy production during cellular respiration?

Oxygen (correct)

Calcium

Phosphorus

Carbon

Which lesser element is necessary for blood clotting and neural transmission?

Calcium Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of phosphorus in the human body?

It forms part of nucleic acids and ATP. Signup and view all the answers

Which element is known as the primary component of all organic molecules?

Carbon Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following elements makes up approximately 9.5% of the body's mass?

Hydrogen Signup and view all the answers

What is a major role of oxygen in the body aside from being part of organic molecules?

It is essential for the oxidation of glucose. Signup and view all the answers

What process involves the joining of monomers to form polymers by removing water molecules?

Dehydration Synthesis Signup and view all the answers

What occurs during hydrolysis?

Monomers are released by the addition of water. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is classified as a monosaccharide?

Glucose Signup and view all the answers

Which carbohydrate class consists of two simple sugars bonded together?

Disaccharides Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of polysaccharides?

They consist of long, branching chains of linked sugars. Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is an example of a disaccharide?

Maltose Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about carbohydrates is false?

Polysaccharides are small enough to easily pass through cell membranes. Signup and view all the answers

Which process results in the formation of water molecules as byproducts?

Dehydration Synthesis Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of lipoproteins in the body?

To transport fatty acids and cholesterol in the bloodstream Signup and view all the answers

Which vitamin is primarily associated with its role in vision?

Vitamin A Signup and view all the answers

What component makes up triglycerides?

Three fatty acids and one glycerol molecule Signup and view all the answers

Which lipid is primarily involved in the control of gastrointestinal motility?

Prostaglandins Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of glycolipids in the body?

Cell recognition and determining blood type Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of unsaturated fatty acids?

Contain one or more double bonds Signup and view all the answers

Which lipid's primary function is to aid in blood clotting?

Vitamin K Signup and view all the answers

Which lipid type is involved in the inflammatory response?

Prostaglandins Signup and view all the answers

What is the basic building block of proteins?

Amino acids Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a function of proteins in the body?

Storing genetic information Signup and view all the answers

Which structural level of protein is characterized by a sequence of amino acids?

Primary structure Signup and view all the answers

What type of protein is characterized by its stable structure and role in binding body structures?

Fibrous proteins Signup and view all the answers

What is the correct description of secondary protein structure?

Chains of amino acids that twist or bend Signup and view all the answers

Which of these proteins is an example of a fibrous protein?

Collagen Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true regarding polypeptides?

They are short chains consisting of fewer than 50 amino acids. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the tertiary structure of proteins?

Compact, ball-like structure Signup and view all the answers

What are the two major kinds of nucleic acids?

DNA and RNA Signup and view all the answers

Which sugar is found in DNA?

Deoxyribose Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of RNA in the cell?

To carry out DNA's instructions for protein synthesis Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following nitrogenous bases are present in RNA?

Adenine, Uracil, Guanine, Cytosine Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of ATP in cells?

Providing chemical energy for cellular processes Signup and view all the answers

What component distinguishes nucleotides from one another?

The nitrogenous base Signup and view all the answers

How do DNA and RNA structurally differ?

DNA is double-stranded, while RNA is single-stranded. Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic is unique to DNA replication?

It takes place during cell division. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Composition of Matter

Elements are fundamental units of matter, with 96% of the body composed of four main elements: Oxygen (65%), Carbon (18.5%), Hydrogen (9.5%), and Nitrogen (3.2%).
The periodic table provides a comprehensive listing of all elements.

Major and Lesser Elements in the Body

Major elements (96.1%):
- Oxygen (O): Essential for respiration and energy production in cells.
- Carbon (C): Key component of organic molecules.
- Hydrogen (H): Influences pH as part of organic molecules.
- Nitrogen (N): Critical for proteins and nucleic acids.
Lesser elements (3.9%):
- Calcium (Ca): Important for bones, muscle contraction, and blood clotting.
- Phosphorus (P): Part of bones and teeth, nucleic acids, and ATP.

Organic Compounds

Dehydration Synthesis: Process where monomers are joined to form polymers by removing water, essential for macromolecule construction.
Hydrolysis: Breaks down polymers into monomers through the addition of water, crucial for digestion.

Carbohydrates

Composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; categorized into:
- Monosaccharides: Simple sugars (e.g., glucose, fructose).
- Disaccharides: Two monosaccharides linked (e.g., sucrose, lactose).
- Polysaccharides: Long chains of monosaccharides (e.g., starch and glycogen); serve as energy storage.

Lipids

Triglycerides: Store energy, made of fatty acids and glycerol; can be saturated or unsaturated.
Fat-Soluble Vitamins: Essential for bodily functions, derived from food (A, D, E, K).
Prostaglandins: Function in various physiological processes such as inflammation and blood pressure regulation.
Lipoproteins: Transport fatty acids and cholesterol in the bloodstream.

Proteins

Comprise over half of the body’s organic matter, vital for tissue construction and biological functions (enzymes, hormones, antibodies).
Made from amino acids, characterized by:
- Primary Structure: Sequence of amino acids.
- Secondary Structure: Folding patterns (alpha helix, beta-pleated sheet).
- Tertiary Structure: Overall 3D shape.
- Quaternary Structure: Complex of multiple polypeptide chains.
Fibrous Proteins: Provide structure (e.g., collagen, keratin).

Nucleic Acids

Form genetic material (DNA and RNA); largest biological molecules.
Nucleotides: Building blocks made of a nitrogenous base, five-carbon sugar, and phosphate group.
- DNA: Genetic material, contains deoxyribose and base pairs adenine-thymine and guanine-cytosine.
- RNA: Converts DNA instructions into proteins; uses ribose sugar and shows base pairing with uracil instead of thymine.

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

ATP serves as the main energy currency of cells, consisting of ribose, adenine, and three phosphate groups.
Energy is released when high-energy phosphate bonds are broken, providing fuel for various cellular activities.

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Explore the fundamental concepts of basic chemistry as it relates to human anatomy and physiology in this chapter. This quiz will cover essential topics and principles necessary for understanding the biochemical foundations of the human body. Delve into the composition and interactions of matter that are crucial for life.