Untitled Flashcard Set

Macromolecule

A large molecule made of many smaller units.

Monomer

A small building block molecule.

Polymer

A chain of many monomers linked together.

Dehydration synthesis

Reaction that joins monomers by removing water.

Hydrolysis

Reaction that breaks polymers into monomers by adding water.

Monosaccharide

Single sugar molecule.

Disaccharide

Two sugars bonded together.

Polysaccharide

Long chain of sugars.

Structural isomer

Molecules with the same formula but different arrangements.

Glucose

Common six-carbon sugar used for energy.

Galactose

Six-carbon sugar, part of lactose.

Fructose

Six-carbon sugar found in fruit.

Starch

Plant storage polysaccharide.

Glycogen

Animal storage polysaccharide.

Cellulose

Plant structural polysaccharide in cell walls.

Fatty acid

Long hydrocarbon chain with a carboxyl group.

Saturated fat

Fatty acid with no double bonds (solid).

Unsaturated fat

Fatty acid with double bonds (liquid).

Triglyceride

Fat made of glycerol + three fatty acids.

Phospholipid

Lipid with glycerol, two fatty acids, and a phosphate group.

Hydrophobic

'Water-fearing,' repels water.

Hydrophilic

'Water-loving,' interacts with water.

Amino acid

Building block of proteins.

Polypeptide

Chain of amino acids.

Primary structure

Sequence of amino acids.

Secondary structure

Local folding (α-helix or β-sheet).

Tertiary structure

Overall 3D shape of a protein.

Quaternary structure

Protein made of multiple polypeptide chains.

R group

Variable side chain of an amino acid.

Enzyme

Protein that speeds up chemical reactions.

Nucleotide

Monomer of nucleic acids (sugar, phosphate, base).

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid)

Molecule storing genetic information.

RNA (Ribonucleic acid)

Molecule that helps make proteins.