The Chemistry of Life

These flashcards cover the fundamental vocabulary and definitions related to the chemistry of life, including components of atoms, types of chemical bonds, characteristics of macromolecules, and the properties of water.

Atom

smallest unit of matter that still has the properties of an element.

Subatomic particles

Particles smaller than an atom, consisting primarily of protons, neutrons, and electrons, which determine the atom's identity, mass, and chemical reactivity.

Proton

A positively charged subatomic particle located in the nucleus of an atom. The number of protons defines the atomic number of an element, thereby determining its chemical identity.

Neutron

A subatomic particle with no electrical charge, found in the nucleus of an atom. Neutrons contribute to the atom's atomic mass and can vary in number among isotopes of the same element.

Electron

A negatively charged subatomic particle that orbits the nucleus in specific energy levels or shells. Electrons are primarily responsible for an atom's chemical behavior and its ability to form bonds.

Nucleus

The dense, central core of an atom, comprised of protons and neutrons. It contains most of the atom's mass and its overall positive charge.

Carbohydrate

• sugars

• Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen (CHO)

• Ratio: 1:2:1

• Monomer: Saccharide

• Polymer lengths: Monosaccharide, Disaccharide, Polysaccharide

• To build polymer: Dehydration synthesis

Nucleic Acid

• Monomer: Nucleotide

• 3 parts:

  • Phosphate

  • 5-carbon Sugar

  • Nitrogenous base

• Polymer: DNA and RNA

• Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorous (CHNOP)

Ion

an atom or molecule where the total number of electrons is not equal to the total number of protons, giving it a net positive or negative charge.

Covalent bond

• results from sharing pair(s) of electrons between the atoms.  Usually found between 2 nonmetals.

co= co pilots (share the responsibilities)

Ionic bond

• results from the transfer of electrons (stealing) from a metal to a nonmetal   which creates Ions.

     I - all about me - steal to make you happy

Hydrogen bond

weak attraction between a hydrogen atom in one molecule and a slightly negative atom (like oxygen or nitrogen) in another molecule.

Hydrophilic

Describing substances that are 'water-loving' due to their polarity or charge, allowing them to readily interact with water molecules and dissolve in water.

Hydrophobic

Describing substances that are 'water-fearing' due to their nonpolar nature, causing them to repel water molecules and not readily dissolve in water.

Polarity

A fundamental property of a molecule that arises from the unequal distribution of electron density, creating partial positive and partial negative regions within the molecule. This charge separation influences molecular interactions and solubility.

Saturated fatty acid

• Single bonds

• Can stack

• solid at room temperature

• Most animal fats are fatty acids with no double bonds in their carbon chain, contributing to a higher melting point.

Unsaturated fatty acid

• Double bonds - Kink or bends

• can’t stack

• Liquid at room temp

• Plants, vegetable oils, fish oils

Hydrolysis

A chemical reaction where a larger molecule (polymer) is broken down into smaller subunits (monomers) by the addition of a water molecule ($H_2O$), which splits the bond.

Dehydration synthesis

A chemical reaction that builds larger molecules (polymers) from smaller subunits (monomers) by forming a new covalent bond and simultaneously removing a molecule of water ($H_2O$).

Macromolecule

molecule made by living organisms that is important for life processes.

Ex: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids

Monomer

The 1 piece that is repeated over and over

Polymer

molecules that are built out of MANY repeated pieces linked together

Non Polar covalent bond

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, a complex double-stranded helical nucleic acid molecule that carries the genetic instructions used in the growth, development, functioning, and reproduction of all known living organisms and many viruses.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid, a single-stranded nucleic acid molecule involved in various cellular processes, primarily in gene expression by carrying genetic information from DNA to create proteins (e.g., mRNA, tRNA, rRNA).

Protein

• we build stuff (our body) out of it

• Polymer: Polypeptide chain

  • A polypeptide chain is not a protein until it is FOLDED

• Monomer: Amino Acids

• Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Quaternary

Amino Acid

The monomer unit of proteins, characterized by a central carbon atom bonded to an amino group ($NH_2$), a carboxyl group ($COOH$), a hydrogen atom, and a unique side chain (R-group) that determines its specific properties.

Peptide bond

chemical bond that links two amino acids together in a protein. It forms when the carboxyl group of one amino acid joins with the amino group of another, releasing a molecule of water.

Enzyme

a protein that can break down polymers.

Electronegativity

A measure of an atom's intrinsic ability to attract electrons towards itself when it is part of a chemical bond. Differences in electronegativity between bonded atoms determine the polarity of the bond.

Polar covalent bond

A type of covalent bond where electrons are shared unequally between two atoms due to a significant difference in their electronegativity, resulting in partial positive and partial negative charges across the bond.

Octet rule

atoms tend to gain, lose or share electrons so as to have 8 electrons

Solvent

Dissolves substances (liquid)

Solute

What is dissolved (Solid)

Solution

Solute + Solvent

Lipid

• Fats

• Can’t form a polymer

• Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen (CHO)

• composed of at least 1 Fatty acid chain

  • can be saturated (straight) or unsaturated (Kink or bend)

• Cholesterol

• Ex:

  • fats + animal fats

  • butter

  • oils, waxes, steroids

Organic Compound / Biomolecule

molecules composed of carbon and hydrogen, and may contain any number of other elements such as Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and sometimes Sulfur

Chitin

A complex carbohydrate, specifically a structural polysaccharide, found in the cell walls of fungi, the exoskeletons of arthropods (insects, crustaceans), and the beaks of cephalopods.

Phospholipid bilayer

Big Kid word for Cell Membrane (made up of 2 phospholipids)

Denature/denaturation

The process by which proteins or nucleic acids lose their tertiary (and often secondary) structure due to external stressors such as heat, extreme pH, or chemicals, leading to loss of their biological function.

Catalyst

A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without undergoing any permanent chemical change itself. Biological catalysts are called enzymes.

Digestion reaction (digestive enzyme)

large molecules are broken down into smaller molecules with the help of enzymes.

Synthesis reaction (synthesis enzyme)

smaller reactant molecules (monomers) are combined to form larger, more complex molecules (polymers) with the assistance of synthesis enzymes, often involving the removal of water (dehydration synthesis).

Gene

A segment of DNA (or RNA in some viruses) that contains the instructions for making a specific protein or functional RNA