Properties of Water and Biological Macromolecules

Vocabulary flashcards covering the chemical properties of water, pH levels, and basic biological macromolecules including carbohydrates, proteins, and monomers/polymers.

Biology

The study of life.

Polar Molecule

A molecule, such as $H_2O$, that has an uneven charge distribution, with oxygen carrying a negative charge and hydrogen carrying a positive charge.

Hydrogen Bond

A bond that combines water molecules due to the attraction between the positively charged hydrogen and negatively charged oxygen.

Water's Polarity

The characteristic of water that gives it the ability to dissolve ionic compounds and other polar molecules.

Low pH

An acidic state characterized by a higher concentration of $H^+$.

High pH

A basic state characterized by a lower concentration of $H^+$.

Neutral pH

A pH level of $7$, which is neither acidic nor basic.

Cohesion

The intermolecular attraction that attracts molecules of the same substance to each other.

Adhesion

The attraction between molecules of different substances.

Monomer

A single individual molecule that serves as a building block.

Polymer

A large structure made of lots of monomers bonded together.

Amino Acids

The monomer building blocks that make up proteins.

Enzymes

Biological molecules that are made of proteins.

Carbohydrates

Biological molecules composed of monosaccharide monomers that function in quick energy and short-term energy storage.

Glucose

A monosaccharide carbohydrate with the chemical formula $C_6H_{12}O_6$.