Exam Review #1: Matter and energy for life

Organic compounds contain carbon and hydrogen atoms. Inorganic compounds may contain one or the other, but not both.

Macromolecules are large polymers built from smaller monomers. Think of it like building a train by connecting smaller train cars.

Monomers are small molecules that are the building blocks of polymers. They are like individual train cars.

Polymers are large molecules formed by linking together many monomers. They are like a long train made from many train cars.

Dehydration synthesis is the process of building polymers by removing a water molecule. It's like connecting train cars by removing a small piece of the train car.

Hydrolysis is the process breaking polymers down by adding water. It's like disconnecting train cars by adding a small piece to the end of each car.

Carbohydrates are made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio. They're often used for energy in living organisms.

Monosaccharides are simple sugars that are the building blocks of carbohydrates. Think of them as the individual bricks that make up a wall.

Disaccharides are made up of two monosaccharides linked together. They are like two bricks that are joined together.

Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates made up of many monosaccharides linked together. Think of them as a long wall built from many bricks.

Starch is a storage form of glucose in plants. It's like a pantry filled with food.

Cellulose is a structural polysaccharide found in the cell walls of plants. It gives plants their strength and rigidity.

Glycogen is a storage form of glucose in animals. It's like a stash of energy for the body.

Lipids are fats, oils, waxes, and other molecules that don't dissolve in water. They're important for energy storage, cell membranes, and metabolic reactions.

Fatty acids are the building blocks of most lipids. They are like the bricks that make up a wall.

Saturated fatty acids have the maximum number of hydrogen atoms possible, making them 'full.' They are typically solid at room temperature.

Unsaturated fatty acids have double bonds in their carbon chain, making them 'not full.' They are typically liquid at room temperature.

Triglycerides are a type of lipid made up of glycerol and three fatty acids. They are the main form of energy storage in animals.

Proteins are complex molecules made up of amino acids. They are important for building and repairing tissues, and controlling chemical reactions.

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. They are like individual letters in a word.

Enzymes are a type of protein that acts as a catalyst, speeding up chemical reactions. They are like helpers that make reactions happen faster.

Nucleic acids are complex molecules that store and transmit genetic information. They are like the blueprints for life.

Nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids. They are like individual bricks in a wall.

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic information of an organism.

RNA (ribonucleic acid) is a nucleic acid that helps to translate the genetic code in DNA into proteins.

ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is a high-energy molecule used by cells to power their activities. It's like the battery of the cell.

Water is a polar molecule due to the uneven distribution of electrons, creating slightly positive hydrogen ends and a slightly negative oxygen end.

Nonpolar molecules, like oil, do not have a charge difference and are repelled by water.

Polarity is the uneven distribution of charge within a molecule, making one end slightly positive and the other slightly negative.

Hydrogen bonds are weak attractions between the slightly positive hydrogen of one water molecule and the slightly negative oxygen of another water molecule.

Water's high specific heat capacity means it takes a lot of energy to change its temperature.

Water's high heat of vaporization means it takes a lot of energy for water to evaporate.

Water is called the universal solvent because it can dissolve many substances.

Dissociation is when atoms break off from molecules and form ions, affecting the solution's properties.

Cohesion is the attraction between water molecules due to hydrogen bonds.

Adhesion is the attraction between water molecules and other charged molecules.

Surface tension is the force that allows water to resist breaking.

Transpiration is the movement of water through a plant and its evaporation from leaves.

Cohesion and adhesion are important for water transport in plants. Water molecules stick together and also to the walls of the plant's vascular tissue.

Cohesion and adhesion are responsible for the surface tension that allows insects to walk on water.

Hydrophilic molecules are attracted to water because they have a similar charge distribution to water.

Hydrophobic molecules are repelled by water because they don't have a charge difference like water.

The cell membrane is the outermost layer of a cell, regulating what enters and exits, and maintaining a stable internal environment.

Homeostasis refers to the maintenance of a stable internal environment within a cell or organism, despite external changes.

The cell membrane allows certain substances to pass through while blocking others, controlling the movement of molecules into and out of the cell.

Phospholipids are a key component of the cell membrane, forming a bilayer with their hydrophilic heads facing outward and hydrophobic tails inward.

Cholesterol helps to regulate the fluidity of the cell membrane, preventing it from becoming too rigid or too fluid.

Channel proteins act like tunnels, allowing specific ions to pass through the membrane, while carrier proteins change shape to transport specific molecules.

Glycoproteins are proteins with attached carbohydrate chains, often involved in cell recognition and immune responses.

The fluid mosaic model describes the cell membrane as a fluid-like structure where components can move freely, like floating objects in an ocean.

Passive transport involves the movement of molecules across the membrane without requiring cellular energy, following the concentration gradient.

Diffusion is the movement of molecules from a region of high concentration to a region of low concentration, driven by the concentration gradient.

Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules across a semi-permeable membrane, moving from a region of high water concentration to a region of low water concentration.

Tonicity refers to the concentration of solutes outside the cell relative to the concentration inside the cell.

Isotonic solution has an equal concentration of solutes inside and outside the cell, so water moves in and out at equal rates.

Hypotonic solution has a lower solute concentration outside the cell than inside, causing water to move into the cell.

Hypertonic solution has a higher solute concentration outside the cell than inside, causing water to move out of the cell.

Facilitated diffusion is a type of passive transport that utilizes carrier proteins or channel proteins to assist in the movement of molecules across the membrane, still following the concentration gradient.

Active transport requires cellular energy (ATP) to move molecules against their concentration gradient, from a region of low concentration to a region of high concentration.

The sodium-potassium pump is an example of active transport, using ATP to pump sodium ions out of the cell and potassium ions into the cell, maintaining a concentration gradient.

Bulk membrane transport involves the cell membrane engulfing large molecules or particles into vesicles or expelling them through vesicles.

Endocytosis is the process by which a cell takes in material from the extracellular fluid by engulfing it in a vesicle.

Pinocytosis is a type of endocytosis where the cell engulfs extracellular fluid containing dissolved nutrients.

Phagocytosis is a type of endocytosis where the cell engulfs large particles, such as bacteria or debris.

Receptor-assisted endocytosis involves specialized receptors on the cell membrane that bind to specific molecules, triggering their intake into the cell.

Exocytosis is the process by which a cell releases material from its interior to the extracellular fluid by fusing a vesicle with the cell membrane.

The cell membrane plays a crucial role in communication between cells, allowing for signal transduction and the exchange of molecules.

The capacity to do work, such as light, heat, or electrical energy.

Stored energy within a cell, like sugar or ATP.

The energy of motion.

Energy stored in the chemical bonds of molecules, such as the energy found in food.

The total of all chemical reactions that take place within a cell.

The process by which organisms use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose (sugar).

The main pigment plants use to capture sunlight energy. It absorbs red and blue light, reflecting green light, which is why leaves appear green.

Plants and other organisms that can produce their own food using photosynthesis. They are also known as producers.

Organisms that cannot make their own food and must consume other organisms for energy. They are also known as consumers.

The small packets of energy that make up light.

Pigments that absorb light in different wavelengths, helping plants capture the full spectrum of sunlight energy. Examples include carotene and xanthophylls.

The process that uses light energy to produce oxygen and high-energy compounds like ATP and NADPH, which are used in the dark reaction.

The part of the chloroplast where the light reaction takes place. It is the location of chlorophyll.

The carbon dioxide-fixing process that uses the energy from ATP and NADPH produced in the light reaction to convert carbon dioxide into glucose.

The process of releasing energy stored in glucose in the presence of oxygen.

The process of breaking down glucose without oxygen, producing less energy and lactic acid as a byproduct.

The process that creates 2 ATP molecules by breaking down glucose into pyruvate in the cytoplasm. It's the first stage of both aerobic and anaerobic respiration.

The cycle that breaks down pyruvate, releasing carbon dioxide and producing ATP and electron carriers, which are used in the electron transport chain. It's the second stage of aerobic respiration.

The final stage of aerobic respiration where high-energy electrons from electron carriers are used to pump protons across the membrane and generate a proton gradient, ultimately producing ATP.

The process of converting pyruvate into ethanol and carbon dioxide in the absence of oxygen. It is a type of anaerobic respiration.

The process of converting pyruvate into lactic acid in the absence of oxygen. This occurs in muscle cells during intense exercise.

The amount of light energy that reaches a plant. Increasing light intensity will generally increase the rate of photosynthesis.

The temperature at which a plant is growing. Photosynthesis functions best within a specific temperature range.

Water is essential for photosynthesis. When water is limited, the rate of photosynthesis decreases.

Minerals like nitrogen, magnesium, and phosphorus are needed for plant growth and photosynthesis.

Complex carbohydrates made up of many monosaccharides linked together. Starch and cellulose are examples.