Ch. 4 Organic Molecules

Flashcards based on Chapter 4 of Organic Molecules focusing on key definitions, types of molecules, and their functions in biological systems.

What are organic molecules primarily made of?

Carbon and hydrogen.

What additional common elements can be found in organic molecules?

Oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus.

What type of atoms form the backbone of organic molecules?

Carbon atoms.

How are carbon atoms arranged in organic molecules?

In chains or rings.

What type of bond holds the atoms together in organic molecules?

Covalent bonds.

What is isopropyl alcohol's chemical formula?

C3H8O.

What is the common structure of organic molecules?

They are often based on carbon skeletons.

What are isomers?

Molecules with the same empirical formula but different structures.

What are optical isomers?

Isomers that have non-superimposable mirror images.

What is an example of a drug with different isomers and their effects?

L-Dopa is effective for Parkinson's disease, while D-Dopa is inactive.

How can one enantiomer in a drug be harmful?

Thalidomide's one enantiomer reduced morning sickness while the other caused birth defects.

What are functional groups?

Groups of atoms that confer specific chemical properties when attached to larger molecules.

What role do functional groups play in organic molecules?

They help predict the chemistry and identify molecules.

What type of groups are polar and interact with water?

Functional groups.

What do carboxyl groups act as in organic molecules?

Acids.

What do amino groups act as in organic molecules?

Bases.

What are the four main classes of macromolecules in living organisms?

Proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids.

Which macromolecule is not built of monomers?

Lipids.

How are macromolecules formed?

Through dehydration synthesis reactions.

What is released during the formation of macromolecules?

A water molecule.

How are polymers broken down into monomers?

In hydrolytic reactions.

What bond is broken during hydrolysis?

Covalent bonds.

What is the basic carbohydrate monomer?

Monosaccharide.

What defines a monosaccharide?

Simple sugars like glucose.

What is the polymer of monosaccharides?

Polysaccharides.

What forms when monosaccharides are linked together?

Glycosidic linkages.

What is the primary function of carbohydrates?

A source of energy.

What differentiates monosaccharides in their structure?

The number of carbon atoms.

What are hexoses?

Six-carbon sugars like glucose.

What are three-carbon sugars?

They are called triose sugars like glyceraldehyde.

What is a glycemic index?

A measure of how quickly food affects blood glucose levels.

What does a high glycemic index indicate?

A rapid increase in blood glucose levels.

What can high GI foods lead to?

Type II diabetes and obesity.

What happens to blood glucose levels after eating?

The body releases insulin.

What are oligosaccharides?

Chains of 3 to 20 monosaccharides.

What are polysaccharides made of?

Hundreds to thousands of monosaccharides.

What is starch?

A storage form of glucose in plants.

What is glycogen?

A storage form of glucose in animals.

What is cellulose?

A polysaccharide that provides structural support in plants.

What defines proteins as macromolecules?

Made of amino acids linked by peptide bonds.

What are the functions of proteins?

Enzymatic, structural, and transport functions.

What determines a protein's function?

Its shape.

What type of bonds hold proteins together?

Peptide bonds.

What level of structure is determined by the amino acid sequence?

Primary structure.

What is secondary structure in proteins?

Folding into alpha-helices or beta-sheets.

What is tertiary protein structure?

Overall 3-D shape due to side chain interactions.

What stabilizes tertiary structures?

Disulfide bonds, hydrophobic interactions, ionic bonds, and hydrogen bonds.

What is quaternary protein structure?

Structure formed by combining two or more polypeptide chains.

What is a nucleotide?

The monomer of nucleic acids.

What are the three parts of a nucleotide?

A pentose sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.

What are the two types of nucleic acids?

DNA and RNA.

What is the primary function of DNA?

To store genetic information.

What is the function of RNA?

To translate genetic information into proteins.

What is the structure of DNA?

A double helix formed by two strands.

What distinguishes saturated from unsaturated fatty acids?

Saturated fats are solid at room temperature, unsaturated fats are liquid.

What are phospholipids?

Molecules with hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails.

What is the function of cholesterol in cell membranes?

To maintain membrane fluidity.