Carbon Chemistry and Macromolecules Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering the topics of carbon chemistry, macromolecules, and biological molecules, based on lecture notes.

Organic Chemistry

Study of carbon compounds.

Organic Compounds

Compounds containing at least carbon and hydrogen.

Hydrocarbons

Molecules that consist only of carbon and hydrogen.

Isomers

Same molecular formula but different structures and properties.

Structural Isomers

Isomers with different covalent arrangements of atoms.

Cis-Trans Isomers

Isomers with the same covalent bonds but differ in spatial arrangements.

Enantiomers

Isomers that are mirror images of each other.

Functional Groups

Components most commonly involved in chemical reactions; give molecules unique properties.

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

Primary energy-transferring molecule in cells.

Polymer

Large molecule formed by joining of smaller molecules.

Monomer

The building block of a polymer.

Dehydration Synthesis

Bonds monomers by the loss of a water molecule.

Hydrolysis

Polymers break down by the addition of water.

Carbohydrates

Sugars and sugar polymers.

Monosaccharides

Simplest carbohydrates; single sugars.

Polysaccharides

Carbohydrate macromolecules.

Disaccharide

Two linked monosaccharides.

Glycosidic Linkage

A bond between two monosaccharides.

Starch

Glucose polymer used for energy storage in plants.

Glycogen

Storage polysaccharide in animals.

Cellulose

Polysaccharide that is a major component of plant cell walls.

Chitin

Polysaccharide found in the exoskeleton of arthropods and cell walls of fungi.

Lipids

Diverse group of hydrophobic molecules.

Fats and Oils

Glycerol and fatty acids joined by ester linkages.

Glycerol

Alcohol with three carbons, each bearing a hydroxyl group.

Fatty Acid

A carboxyl group attached to a long carbon skeleton.

Ester Linkage

A bond between a hydroxyl group and a carboxyl group.

Saturated Fats

Fatty acids with the maximum number of hydrogens and no double bonds.

Unsaturated Fats

Fats with one or more double bonds.

Hydrogenation

Fatty acids converted to saturated fats by adding hydrogen.

Trans Fats

Double bonds that can be formed during hydrogenation, associated with cardiovascular disease.

Phospholipids

Lipid with two fatty acids and a phosphate group attached to glycerol; forms cell membranes.

Steroids

Lipids with four fused rings.

Proteins

Molecule with a diversity of structures and a wide range of functions.

Amino Acids

The monomers from which proteins are constructed.

Peptide Bond

A bond between amino acids.

Polypeptide

A polymer of amino acids.

Primary Structure

The sequence of amino acids in a protein.

Secondary Structure

Coils and folds in a polypeptide chain due to hydrogen bonds.

Tertiary Structure

Overall shape of a protein due to interactions between R groups of amino acids.

Quaternary Structure

The association of two or more polypeptides into a functional protein.

Denatured Protein

An inactive protein, because it has been unraveled due to alterations in pH, salt, temperature, etc.

Nucleic Acids

Store, transmit, and help express hereditary information.

DNA and RNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid.

Nucleotide

A nitrogenous base, pentose sugar, and phosphate group.

Phosphodiester Linkage

Covalent bond between the –OH group on the 3' carbon of one nucleotide and the phosphate on the 5' carbon of the next nucleotide.

Pyrimidines

Cytosine, thymine, and uracil.

Purines

Adenine and guanine.