Composition of Living Matter and Macromolecules

Vocabulary flashcards covering cellular organization hierarchy, chemical bonds, properties of water, inorganic minerals/gases, and organic macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins).

Elements

The smallest units of matter with individual properties based on atomic composition.

Inorganic Molecules

Molecules that do not contain carbon (C).

Organic Molecules

Molecules that contain many carbon (C) atoms.

Ionic Bonds

Chemical bonds formed between oppositely charged molecules.

Covalent Bonds

Highly stable chemical bonds that represent the strongest type of bonding.

Hydrogen Bonds

Fairly weak chemical bonds formed due to electro-attractive forces between oppositely charged parts of polar molecules.

Polarity

The distribution of charge across a molecule, characterized by unequal charge distribution.

Cohesion

The association of water molecules that causes them to resist pulling apart.

Solution

A liquid mixture that has the exact same composition throughout.

Solvent

The majority component of a solution in which all other substances are suspended.

Solute

The substance dissolved in a solvent, such as ions, gases, or proteins.

Solvency

The ability of water to dissolve and separate ions.

Hydration Spheres

Structures formed when partial charges of water orient toward oppositely charged ions, promoting separation and dissolving polar compounds.

Heat Capacity

The amount of energy/heat needed to raise the temperature of $1\,\text{g}$ of a substance by $1\,^\text{o}\text{C}$.

Acids

Molecules that release $\text{H}^+$ when dissolved in water, increasing hydrogen ion levels in solution.

Bases

Molecules that absorb $\text{H}^+$ from solution, decreasing hydrogen ion levels in solution.

Macromolecules

Large organic molecules composed of many small molecules containing thousands of linked atoms.

Polymers

Macromolecules consisting of repeating molecular units called monomers.

Carbohydrates

Polar, water-soluble energy-rich molecules composed of sugar rings with the general formula $\text{(CH}_2\text{O)}_n$ that compose about $1\%$ of body mass.

Monosaccharides

Simple sugars consisting of one carbon ring composed of 5 or 6 carbon atoms.

Hexose

A 6-carbon simple sugar.

Pentose

A 5-carbon simple sugar.

Disaccharides

Double sugars formed when two monosaccharides bond together via dehydration synthesis.

Sucrose

A disaccharide formed by the combination of Glucose and Fructose.

Lactose

A disaccharide formed by the combination of Glucose and Galactose.

Maltose

A disaccharide formed by the combination of Glucose and Glucose.

Starch

A plant polysaccharide consisting of straight or slightly branched lines of glucose monomers used for energy storage.

Glycogen

An animal polysaccharide consisting of highly branched lines of glucose monomers stored in liver and muscle cells.

Lipids

Water-insoluble, hydrophobic molecules composed mostly of carbon and hydrogen that compose about $15\%$ of body mass.

Hydrophobic Molecules

Largely non-polar molecules that avoid mixing with water.

Triglycerides

Neutral fats composed of glycerol and three long fatty acid tails used for long-term energy storage, insulation, and protection.

Saturated Fats

Fats with fatty acid chains that pack together tightly, forming solids at room temperature.

Unsaturated Fats

Fats containing at least one double or triple carbon bond, creating kinks in their chains that prevent close packing and form liquids at room temperature.

Amphipathic Molecules

Molecules that contain both hydrophilic (water-loving) and hydrophobic (water-fearing) portions.

Phospholipids

Amphipathic modified triglycerides consisting of a polar phosphate head and two nonpolar fatty acid tails that form cell membranes.

Steroids

Lipids composed of four interlocking hydrocarbon rings rather than chains.

Cholesterol

A steroid that regulates cell membrane fluidity and acts as a precursor for vitamin D synthesis, steroid hormones, and bile salts.

Low-Density Lipoproteins (LDLs)

Lipoproteins that deposit cholesterol in blood vessels and around the body.

High-Density Lipoproteins (HDLs)

Lipoproteins that transport cholesterol back to the liver.

Nucleic Acids

Chains of nucleotide monomers composed of C, H, O, N, and P that contain genetic code and compose about $2\%$ of body mass.

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

A modified nucleotide that serves as an energy source for the cell via energy-rich covalent bonds between its phosphate groups.

Proteins

Highly diverse organic molecules composed of amino acid monomers that participate in virtually all cellular processes and compose about $17\%$ of body weight.

Primary Structure

The specific sequence or linear chain of amino acids unique to every protein.

Secondary Structure

Protein structural organization formed by hydrogen bonds between the acid and amine groups of distant amino acids, forming $\alpha$ helices or $\beta$ sheets.

Tertiary Structure

The three-dimensional folded shape of a polypeptide resulting from interactions between amino acid R groups.

Quaternary Structure

The structural organization achieved when two or more polypeptide chains come together to create one functional protein.

Protein Denaturation

The process in which the structural folding of a protein is broken or unfolded by heat, agitation, or chemicals.

Enzymes

Protein catalysts that speed up cellular reactions by lowering the activation energy required.

Activation Energy

The amount of energy needed for a chemical reaction to occur.