Inorganic and Organic Compounds Essential to Human Functioning

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary related to the chemistry of human life, focusing on both inorganic and organic compounds crucial for bodily structure and function.

Inorganic Compound

A substance that does not contain both carbon and hydrogen.

Organic Compound

A substance that contains both carbon and hydrogen.

Hydrophilic

Substances that readily dissolve in water.

Hydrophobic

Substances that do not readily dissolve in water.

Solution

A homogeneous mixture in which a solute is dissolved in a solvent.

Colloid

A mixture where solute particles are large enough to make the liquid opaque.

Suspension

A liquid mixture in which heavier substances are temporarily suspended.

Dehydration Synthesis

A reaction where two molecules are joined by the removal of water.

Hydrolysis

A reaction involving the breaking of a bond by the addition of water.

Acid

A substance that releases hydrogen ions (H+) in solution when dissolved in an aqueous solution

Strong Vs Weak Acid

A strong acid completely dissociates in water, releasing all of its hydrogen ions, while a weak acid only partially dissociates, resulting in fewer hydrogen ions in solution.

Base

A substance that releases hydroxyl ions (OH–) in solution or that accepts H+.

pH Scale

A scale used to measure the acidity or alkalinity of a solution.

Buffer

A solution of a weak acid and its conjugate base that can neutralize small amounts of acids or bases.

Carbon Atoms

are the fundamental building blocks of organic molecules, capable of forming four covalent bonds with other atoms.

Carbon Skeletons

carbons that form long, stable chains, branched networks, or cyclical ring structures, allowed by bonding versatility

What are function groups?

specific groups of atoms within molecules that determine the characteristics and chemical reactivity of those molecules. They are responsible for the particular properties and behaviors of organic compounds.

What are the 5 important functional groups mentioned in the chapter?

They are hydroxyl, carboxyl, amino, methyl, and phosphate groups.

What is the Hydroxyl Functional group

consists of an oxygen atom bonded to a hydrogen atom (-OH), making compounds more soluble in water and indicative of alcohols. (involved in hydrolysis and  dehydration synthesis processes.)

What is the Carboxyl Functional Group

consists of a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom and also bonded to a hydroxyl group (-COOH). It acts as an acid by donating a proton (H+) and is found in amino acids and fatty acids.

What is the Amino functional group?

consists of a nitrogen atom bonded to one or more hydrogen atoms (-NH2), making compounds basic and capable of forming hydrogen bonds. It is commonly found in amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins.

What is the Methyl Functional Group?

consists of a carbon atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms (-CH3). It is a nonpolar group that can affect the solubility and reactivity of organic molecules.

What is the phosphate functional group

consists of a phosphorus atom bonded to four oxygen atoms, typically represented as -PO₄. It plays a crucial role in energy transfer and is a key component of nucleotides, which are the building blocks of DNA and RNA.

What is a macromolecule?

Large, complex molecules essential for biological functions, including proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids.

• They are formed from smaller, repeating units called momomers.

What are Polymers?

Large molecules composed of repeating structural units called monomers, linked by covalent bonds.

Carbohydrate

A molecule composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, typically in a 2:1 ratio of hydrogen to oxygen.

Monosaccharide

The simplest form of carbohydrates, consisting of a single sugar unit.

What are the 5 important monosaccharides?

Glucose, Fructose, Galactose, Ribose, Deoxyribose

What is glucose?

A six-carbon sugar (hexose) that is the primary and most available in body’s cells for energy production and metabolism.

What is Fructose?

A Six-carbon sugar (hexose) that is found in fruits and honey, serving as a significant source of energy. Is converted into glucose in the liver

What is Galactose?

A six-carbon sugar (hexose) that primarily occurs in milk and dairy products, and is converted into glucose in the liver.

What is Deoxyribose?

A five-carbon sugar (pentose) that is a component of DNA, that forms its sugar-phosphate backbone

What is Ribose?

A five-carbon sugar (pentose) that is a crucial component of RNA and ATP, involved in the synthesis of nucleotides and nucleic acids.

Disaccharide

A carbohydrate made up of two monosaccharides bonded together.

• Must be broken down into monosaccharides for absorption 

What are the 3 important disaccharides formed by dehydration synthesis

sucrose, lactose, and maltose.

What is Sucrose?

A disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose, commonly known as table sugar.

What is Lactose?

A disaccharide made of glucose and galactose, commonly found in milk.

What is maltose?

A disaccharide composed of two glucose units, commonly found in malted foods and beverages.

Polysaccharide

A carbohydrate that consists of multiple monosaccharides linked together.

What are the 3 important polysccharides?

Starch, glycogen, and cellulose.

What is starch?

A polysaccharide that serves as a storage form of energy in plants, composed of many glucose units linked together.

What is Glycogen?

A polysaccharide that serves as a storage form of energy in animals, primarily found in the liver and muscles, composed of glucose units.

What is Cellulose?

A polysaccharide that provides structural support in plant cell walls, consisting of long chains of glucose units linked together by beta glycosidic bonds.

• Humans lack the enzymes needed to breakdown beta linkages, making it indigestible but it is important for dietary fiber.

What are Lipids?

A diverse group of hydrophobic organic compounds, meaning they are largely nonpolar and insoluble in water.

• Primarily made of hydrocarbons and contain less O2 than carbohydrates

Triglyceride

A type of fat composed of glycerol and three fatty acids.

• form via dehydration synthesis

What are fatty acids?

• Long chains of hydrocarbons with a carboxyl group at one end and a methyl group at the opposite end that extend from the each of the 3 carbons of the glycerol

• Typically categorized as saturated or unsaturated based on their carbon bond structure, serve as important energy sources and building blocks for lipids.

What are saturated fatty acids?

Fatty acids that have no double bonds between carbon atoms, meaning they are saturated with hydrogen atoms. They are typically solid at room temperature and found in animal fats.

What are unsaturated fatty acids?

Fatty acids that contain one or more double bonds between carbon atoms, leading to fewer hydrogen atoms. They are usually liquid at room temperature and commonly found in plant oils.

What is the difference between monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids?

One has fatty acids that contain one double bond, while the other has fatty acids that contain two or more double bonds. Both types are healthy fats typically found in plant oils and can help lower bad cholesterol levels.

Phospholipid

• Modified triglycerides where one fatty acid is replaced by a phosphate-containing group. They are amphipathic, possessing a hydrophilic (polar) head and two hydrophobic (nonpolar) fatty acid tails. This characteristic allows them to form the essential lipid bilayer of cellular membranes

What are Sterols?

a type of lipid characterized by four interlocking hydrocarbon rings.. They play vital roles in membrane fluidity, hormone production, and are important components of cellular membranes.

What are Prostaglandins?

lipid compounds derived from fatty acids that have diverse hormonal effects, including regulating inflammation, blood flow, and the formation of blood clots. They are involved in various physiological processes throughout the body.

Protein

An organic molecule composed of amino acids linked by peptide bonds.

Amino Acid

The building blocks of proteins, containing an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a variable side chain.

• (20 essential or non-essential amino acids exist that contribute to protein synthesis.)

What is the primary structure of Proteins?

refers to the unique sequence of amino acids that make up a polypeptide chain, determining the protein's overall structure and function.

What is the secondary structure of Proteins

refers to the local folded structures that form within a polypeptide due to hydrogen bonding between amino acids, commonly resulting in alpha helices and beta sheets.

What are alpha-helices?

• A stable, spiral shape where the polypeptide chain coils, with hydrogen bonds forming between amino acids four positions apart along the chain.

What are beta-pleated sheets?

• A zigzag, folded shape where segments of the polypeptide chain lie side-by-side, connected by hydrogen bonds between adjacent strands.

What is the tertiary Structure of Proteins?

• The overall, unique three-dimensional shape of a single polypeptide chain, resulting from interactions between the R-groups (side chains) of the amino acids. These diverse interactions contribute to the specific folding and stability

Nucleotide

An organic compound composed of a nitrogen base, a pentose sugar, and one or more phosphate groups.

What are the 5 types of nitrogenous bases?

purines (adenine (A), guanine (G)) and pyrimidines (cytosine (C), thymine (T) in DNA; uracil (U) in RNA).

What are nucleic acids?

Polymers that store and transmit genetic information, composed of long chains of nucleotides. The two main types are DNA and RNA.

What is DNA?

• Deoxyribonucleic Acid - Primary molecule for genetic information storage. It forms a double helix structure and contains the genetic blueprint for all cellular proteins and functions.

What is RNA?

• Ribonucleic Acid - Involved in various aspects of protein synthesis, acting as a messenger (mRNA), ribosomal component (rRNA), and transfer agent (tRNA) of genetic information from DNA to proteins.

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

A high-energy molecule that stores and transfers energy within cells.

What are the main roles of water in the body?

Lubricates and Cushions, Heat Sink, Component of liquid mixtures

Why is water important as a solvent?

It dissolves many substances, facilitating biochemical reactions and nutrient transport in the body.

What is Phosphorylation?

The process of adding a phosphate group to a molecule, often to activate or deactivate enzymes and other proteins.

Concentration of Solutes

refers to the precise amount (number of particles or mass) of solute present in a given volume of solution, affecting osmotic balance and biological functions.

What are salts?

• Ionic compounds that dissociate into ions other than hydrogen ions (\text{H}^+), and hydroxyl ions (\text{OH}^-) when dissolved in water.