Fundamental Concepts in Applied Biochemistry

What is biochemistry?

Chemistry of the organs and tissues of the body and of the various physiological processes related to life

What are the most common chemical processes related to life?

The synthesis and metabolism of amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and fatty acids

What are the two types of cells?

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic

What are prokaryotic cells?

Cells that consist of a single closed compartment surrounded by a plasma membrane, which lacks a defined nucleus and has a relatively simple internal organization

What are eukaryotic cells?

Cells that contain a defined, membrane-bound nucleus and extensive internal membranes that enclose organelles

Are bacteria prokaryotes or eukaryotes?

Prokaryotes

Are archaea prokaryotes or eukaryotes?

Prokaryotes

Are animals, plants, fungi, and protists prokaryotes or eukaryotes?

Eukaryotes

What do pro- and -kary- mean in the word “prokaryote”?

Before nucleus

What does eu- mean in the word “eukaryote”?

True

What is the plasma membrane?

An outer covering that separates the cell’s interior from its surrounding environment

What is cytoplasm?

Made up of cytosol and the cellular structures suspended in cytosol

What is DNA?

Genetic material of the cell

What are ribosomes?

Molecular machines that synthesize proteins

What is the prokaryotic cell wall made out of?

Peptidoglycan

What does the capsule of prokaryotes do?

Helps the cell attach to surfaces in its environment

What are fimbriae?

Hair-like structures that are used for attachment to host cells and other surfaces

What are flagella?

Whip-like structures that act as rotary motors to help bacteria move

What are lysosomes?

Recycling centers of the cell

What are peroxisomes?

Organelles that carry out oxidation reactions and produce hydrogen peroxide

What is a nucleus?

An organelle that houses the cell’s genetic material

What are mitochondria?

Organelles that product adenosine triphosphate/ATP

What are the two types of metabolism?

Anabolism and Catabolism

What is catabolism?

Breaking down of organic molecules

What is anabolism?

Building organic molecules

What is the body’s main energy source?

Glucose

What is coenzyme derived from Vitamin B3?

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, NAD+/NADH

What is a coenzyme derived from Vitamin B2?

Flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD/FADH2)

What are the bulk elements that the body needs daily?

H, C, N, O, Na, P, S, Cl, K, Ca

What are the trace elements that the body needs a few milligrams of per day?

Fe, Cu, Zn, Mg, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Se, I, Mo

What is the net dipole of CO2?

Zero

What is the degree of the O-C-O bond in CO2?

180

What is the degree of the H-O-H bond in water?

104.5

What is the dipole of water?

Electric

What is a hydrogen bond?

A bond between hydrogen and a highly electronegative atom

Is O2 polar or nonpolar?

Nonpolar

When is oxygen generated by plants?

During photosynthesis

What are electrolytes?

Substances that dissociate into anions and cations

What are non-electrolytes?

Substances that do not dissociate into anions and cations

What are weak electrolytes?

Substances that dissociate partly

What is an acid?

A substance that produces H3O+ in an aqueous solution

What is a base?

A substance that produces OH- in an aqueous solution

What are the six most common strong acids?

HCl, HBr, HI, HNO3, H2SO4, HClO4

What are the four most common strong bases?

LiOH, NaOH, KOH, Ba(OH)2

Is an acid or a base a proton donor?

Acid

Is an acid or base a proton acceptor?

Base

What is a conjugate acid-base pair?

Any pair of molecules or ions that can be interconverted by transfer of a proton

What molecule do Bronsted-Lowry definitions not require to be a reactant?

Water

Which is the proton acceptor?

Ammonia

Which is the proton donor?

Acetic acid

Is the acid or the base unionized?

Acid

Is the acid or the base unionized?

Base

T/F: An acid can be positively, neutral, or negatively charged.

True

T/F: A base can only be negatively charged or neutral.

True

Is HCl monoprotic, diprotic, or triprotic?

Monoprotic

Is H₂CO₃ monoprotic, diprotic, or triprotic?

Diprotic

Is H₃PO₄ monoprotic, diprotic, or triprotic?

Triprotic

T/F: The stronger, the acid, the stronger its conjugate base.

False

What is a strong acid?

One that reacts completely or almost completely with water to form H3O+ ions

What is a strong base?

One that reacts completely or almost completely with water to form OH- ions

HCl is

A strong acid

HBr is

A strong acid

HI is

A strong acid

HNO3 is

A strong acid

H2SO4 is

A strong acid

HClO4 is

A strong acid

LiOH is

A strong base

NaOH is

A strong base

KOH is

A strong base

Ba(OH)2 is

A strong base

Lithium hydroxide is

A strong base

Sodium hydroxide is

A strong base

Potassium hydroxide is

A strong base

Barium hydroxide is

A strong base

Hydrochloric acid is

A strong acid

Hydrobromic acid is

A strong acid

Hydroiodic acid is

A strong acid

Sulfuric acid is

A strong acid

Perchloric acid is

A strong acid

What is the name of HCl?

Hydrochloric acid

What is the name of HBr?

Hydrobromic acid

What is the name of HI?

Hydroiodic acid

What is the name of HNO3?

Nitric acid

What is the name of H2SO4?

Sulfuric acid

What is the name of HClO4?

Perchloric acid

What is the name of LiOH?

Lithium hydroxide

What is the name of NaOH?

Sodium hydroxide

What is the name of Ba(OH)2?

Barium hydroxide

What is the name of KOH?

Potassium hydroxide

What is an acid-base reaction?

A proton transfer reaction

What is the name of a substance that can act as either an acid or a base?

Amphiprotic

What is the most important amphiprotic substance?

H2O

What would prevent a substance from being a Bronsted-Lowry acid?

Lacking a hydrogen atom

What is K_a?

An acid ionization constant

What is K_eq?

The equilibrium constant

How is K_eq found?

[A^-][H₃O⁺]/[HA][H₂O]

How is K_a found?

K_eq[H₂O] = [A^-][H₃O⁺]/[HA]

How are pK_a and K_a related?

pK_a = -logK_a

What happens when pH < pK_a?

The protonated forms HA and BH⁺ predominate

What happens when pH = pK_a ?

HA = A^- and BH⁺ = B