Chapter 2 Vocab - Biochemistry 🧬

Atom

A basic unit of matter (Smallest part of an element)

Nucleus

A band of protons and neutrons at the center of an atom

Valence Electron

Electrons involved in chemical bonding

Electron

a negatively charged particle (only one 1840th of the mass of a proton)

Element

pure substance that consists entirely of more of atom (Can not be broken down anymore into smaller parts)

Isotopes

Atoms of the same element that differ in the number of neutrons that contain

Compound

A substance formed by the chemical combination of two or more different elements.

Ionic bond

Formed when one or more electrons are transferred from one atom to another (formed when opposite charges are attracted to each other - METAL & NON-METAL

Ion

A Positively and negatively charged atom

Covalent Bond

Formed by the sharing of electrons, the compounds that are formed are called molecules, NON-METAL & NON-METAL

Molecule

A structure that results when atoms are joined together by covalent bonds

Van der Waals Forces

Forces that produce a slight attraction between molecules when they are very close to each other

Monomer

The building blocks or subunits of a polymer (Macromolecule). A small unit or molecule from larger molecules (polymers).

Polymer

The larger molecule made through the covalent bonds of monomer in a process called polymerization.

Carbohydrate

A macromolecule made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. (Starches, sugar, etc.) - assembled from monosaccharides.

Lipid

Macromolecule made up of mostly carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms. (Fats, oils, waxes) - assembled from glycerol +3 fatty acids.

Nucleotide

The monomer of a nucleic acid (consist of a five carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base)

Nucleic Acid

A macromolecule that contains carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus (DNA, RNA) - assembled from nucleotides.

Protein

a macromolecule made from carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. (Collegen, enzymes, etc) - assembled from amino acids.

Amino Acid

Compounds with an amino group on one end in a carboxyl group at the other end.

Chemical Reaction

The process that changes or transforms one set of compounds into another

Reactant

The elements or compounds that engage in the chemical reaction (start)

Product

The elements are compounds produced by a chemical reaction (End Result)

Activation Energy

The energy that must be absorbed to get a chemical reaction started.

Catalyst

A substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed by the reaction.

Enzymes

Biological catalysts that speed up reactions in living things (ex. of protein)

Substrates

The reactants of an enzyme - catalyzed reaction.

Bond Energy

The amount of energy required to break a bond.

metabolism

Referring to all the chemical reactions that happen in the body to maintain life and function.

catabolism

Reactions that breakdown molecules into smaller pieces (hydrolysis)

anabolism

Reactions that combine smaller molecules to build larger ones (dehydration synthesis)

Chemical Equilibrium

When the reactants and the products form at the same rate.

Ex. CO2 + H2O ↔ H2CO3 (reaction in both directions at the same rate).

Endothermic

a reaction to absorbed more energy than it releases. (result will be positive.)

Remember : absorbing energy is like dehydration synthesis

Exothermic

A reaction that releases more energy than absorbs. (Result will be negative).

Remember: Releasing energy is like hydrolysis.

Peptide Bonds

Covalent bonds formed between amino acids to form a polypeptide.

Hydrolysis

ADDITION of H2O molecules in order to BREAK a bond.

Dehydration Sythnesis

REMOVAL of H2O molecules to FORM a bond.

Hydrogen Bond

a bond formed between the positive hydrogen (+H) of one molecule and the negative oxygen (-O) of another molecule.

Cohesion

The attraction of molecules of the same type.

Adhesion

The attraction of molecules of different types.

Mixture

A material composed of two or more elements or compounds that are mixed together, but not chemically combined.

Solution

All of the components are evenly distributed in the substance.

Solute

What is being dissolved. Ex: protein powder

Solvent

What is doing the dissolving. (Usually liquid) ex: water

Suspension

PH Scale/PH

Potential of hydrogen (In a substance)

Acid

Releases H+ ions into solution. Below 7, More H+ ions than OH- ions.

Base

Produces hydroxide ions into solution. Above 7, More OH- ions than H+ ions.

Buffer

Bind and release H+ ions to maintain homeostasis.