Chemistry of Life

These flashcards cover key concepts from the Chemistry of Life lecture notes, focusing on water, properties of biological molecules, and macromolecules.

What constitutes a water molecule?

A water molecule is made of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms (H2O).

What is a hydrogen bond?

A hydrogen bond is a weak interaction that occurs when a partial negative charge on one molecule is attracted to a partial positive charge on another molecule, typically involving hydrogen.

What is the difference between hydrophilic and hydrophobic substances?

Hydrophilic substances are charged or polar and interact with water, while hydrophobic substances are nonpolar and do not dissolve in water.

Define cohesion and adhesion.

Cohesion is the attraction between molecules of the same substance (e.g., water molecules sticking together), while adhesion is the attraction between different substances (e.g., water sticking to glass).

What causes surface tension in water?

Surface tension occurs due to the hydrogen bonding between water molecules at the surface, making it more dense and strong.

What is specific heat capacity?

Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of a substance by 1 degree Celsius.

What is the process by which large biological molecules are formed?

Large biological molecules are formed through dehydration synthesis reactions, where monomers bond together and release a water molecule.

What is an ionic bond?

An ionic bond is a chemical bond formed through the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, resulting in the formation of positively and negatively charged ions.

What are the four main types of biological macromolecules?

The four main types of biological macromolecules are carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

What is the primary function of carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates are primarily used to store energy and provide structural support in organisms.

Explain the significance of carbon in biological molecules.

Carbon is essential for life as it can form four covalent bonds, allowing for complex structures and a variety of functional groups.

What is a peptide bond?

A peptide bond is a covalent bond formed between two amino acids during protein synthesis, releasing water in the process.

Define protein primary structure.

The primary structure of a protein is the sequence of amino acids linked together in a polypeptide chain.

What are polysaccharides?

Polysaccharides are carbohydrate macromolecules made of long chains of monosaccharides linked by glycosidic bonds.

What are triglycerides composed of?

Triglycerides (fats) are composed of glyceryl molecules linked to three fatty acid chains through ester bonds.

What is the role of lipids in biological systems?

Lipids serve as storage of energy, components of cellular membranes, and signaling molecules.

What is DNA, and what is its primary function?

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) is the molecule that stores genetic information and instructions for protein synthesis.

What distinguishes RNA from DNA?

RNA (Ribonucleic acid) contains ribose sugar, has uracil instead of thymine, and is generally single-stranded.

What is the process of hydrolysis?

Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction in which water is added to break bonds in a polymer, resulting in the formation of monomers.