Chemistry of Life: Inorganic/Organic/Macromolecules

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to the chemistry of life, including definitions of macromolecules, chemical interactions, and biological processes.

Hydrogen Bonds

Attraction between the hydrogen atom of one water molecule and the oxygen atom of another.

Cohesion

The attraction between molecules of the same substance.

Adhesion

The attraction between molecules of different substances.

pH Scale

A measure of how acidic or basic water is, ranging from 0 (strongly acidic) to 14 (strongly basic), with 7 being neutral.

Buffer

A substance that helps maintain a specific pH range in biological systems.

Carbohydrates

Organic compounds consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, typically with a ratio of 2:1 for hydrogens to oxygens, serving as a primary energy source.

Proteins

Large, complex molecules made of amino acids that perform many functions in living organisms, including catalyzing biochemical reactions as enzymes.

Nucleic Acids

Biological macromolecules (DNA and RNA) made up of nucleotides that store and transmit genetic information.

Dehydration Synthesis

A chemical reaction in which two molecules join together, losing a water molecule in the process.

Hydrolysis

A chemical reaction that breaks bonds between two molecules by the addition of water.

Polysaccharides

Complex carbohydrates made up of long chains of monosaccharides, such as starch, glycogen, and cellulose.

Enzyme

A biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions in living organisms.

Substrate

The specific reactant that an enzyme acts on.

Denaturation

The process in which proteins lose their functional shape due to environmental changes like temperature or pH.

Functional Groups

Specific groups of atoms within molecules that determine the characteristics and chemical reactivity of those molecules.

Triglycerides

A type of lipid made of glycerol and three fatty acids, used for energy storage.

Amino Acids

The building blocks of proteins, consisting of a central carbon atom, an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a variable side chain.

Ester Linkages

The bond formed between glycerol and fatty acids in lipids.

Polar Molecule

A molecule that has regions of positive and negative charge due to unequal sharing of electrons.