Morris, Biology for the AP Course 1e - Mod 3

ribose

A pentose sugar commonly found in RNA.

functional group

A group of one or more atoms that has a particular chemical property on its own, regardless of what it is attached to.

deoxyribose

The pentose sugar component of DNA.

disaccharide

Two simple sugars joined by a covalent bond; an example is sucrose.

polysaccharide

A polymer of simple sugars. Polysaccharides provide long-term energy storage or structural support.

complex carbohydrate

A long, branched chain of monosaccharides.

cell membrane

The membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm of the cell, separating the inside of the cell from the outside of the cell; also known as plasma membrane.

triacylglycerol

A lipid composed of a glycerol backbone and three fatty acids.

glycerol

A 3-carbon molecule with hydroxyl groups attached to each carbon; a component of triacylglycerol.

fatty acid

A long chain of carbons attached to a carboxyl group; three fatty acid chains attached to glycerol form a triacylglycerol, a lipid used for energy storage.

saturated

Describes fatty acids that do not contain double bonds; the maximum number of hydrogen atoms is attached to each carbon atom, "saturating" the carbons with hydrogen atoms.

unsaturated

Describes fatty acids that contain carbon-carbon double bonds.

van der Waals force

An interaction of temporarily polarized molecules because of the attraction of opposite charges.

steroid

A type of lipid; the precursor molecule for cholesterol and steroid hormones.

phospholipid

A type of lipid and a major component of the cell membrane.