Chemistry of Life

monosaccharide

A single sugar molecule (monomer) such as glucose or fructose, the simplest type of sugar.

Disaccharide

A double sugar, consisting of two monosaccharides joined by dehydration synthesis.

Polysaccharides

Carbohydrates that are made up of more than two monosaccharides

Sugar

-ose

Enzymes

speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction by lowering the activation energy of the reaction (catalysts)

amino acids

building blocks of proteins

Protein

macromolecule that contains carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen; needed by the body for to fight infections, carry oxygen and makes up many structural components in the body

Lipids

Used for long term energy storage, makes up the cell membrane, pigments like chlorophyll and hormones

glycerol and fatty acids

Building Blocks of Lipids

Glycogen

a polysaccharide made by animal cells to store energy- short term

Starch

A storage polysaccharide in plants consisting entirely of glucose.

Cellulose

A substance (made of sugars) that is common in the cell walls of many organisms

Nucleotide

monomer of nucleic acids made up of a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base

DNA

A complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.

RNA

single-stranded nucleic acid that contains the sugar ribose and is involved in protein synthesis

ATP

(adenosine triphosphate) main energy source that cells use for most of their work

dehydration synthesis

A chemical reaction in which two monomers or molecules covalently bond to each other with the removal of a water molecule.

Hydrolysis

Breaking down complex molecules by the chemical addition of water

Endothermic

(of a chemical reaction or compound) occurring or formed with absorption of energy

Exothermic

Chemical Reaction in which energy is primarily given off in the form of heat

-ase

enzyme

Substrate

The reactant on which an enzyme works.

Active site

The part of an enzyme where the chemical reaction occurs.

Reactants

A starting material in a chemical reaction

Products

The elements or compounds produced by a chemical reaction.

polar molecule

A molecule that has electrically charged areas.

water

polar molecule, universal solvent, high specific heat, forms hydrogen bonds, stabilizes land temps

Atom

Basic unit of matter

compound

A substance made up of atoms of two or more different elements joined by chemical bonds

Molecule

two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds

atomic number

the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom

atomic mass

Number of protons and neutrons

covalent bond

A chemical bond that involves sharing a pair of electrons between atoms in a molecule

ionic bond

the attraction between oppositely charged ions

hydrolysis

A chemical process that splits a molecule by adding water.

dehydration synthesis

A chemical reaction in which two molecules are bonded together with the removal of a water molecule.

polymer

molecules composed of many monomers; makes up macromolecules

monomer

Building blocks or a simple compound whose molecules can join together to form polymers

solution

A homogeneous mixture of two or more substances

solvent

the substance in which the solute dissolves

solute

A substance that is dissolved in a solution.

cohesion

Attraction between molecules of the same substance

adhesion

An attraction between molecules of different substances

capillary action

the combined force of attraction among water molecules and with the molecules of surrounding materials

covalent bond

A chemical bond that involves sharing a pair of electrons between atoms in a molecule

ionic bond

the attraction between oppositely charged ions

ions

charged particles

hydrogen bonds

Very weak bonds; occurs when a hydrogen atom in one molecule is attracted to the electrostatic atom in another molecule

nonpolar covalent bond

a covalent bond in which the electrons are shared equally by the two atoms

Hydrophilic

water loving - salts and other polar molecules like sugar

Hydrophobic

Water fearing

Hemoglobin

iron-containing protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen for delivery to cells

membrane proteins

Embedded proteins that perform specific functions for the cell membrane.

nuicleotide

Triglycerides/fats

composed of 1 glycerol + 3 fatty acids

amino acids

building blocks of proteins

Exothermic reaction graph

products have less energy than reactants

endothermic reaction graph

products have more energy than reactants

enzyme graph