Elements of Life and Macromolecules Lecture Notes Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering basic chemistry, properties of water, functional groups, and biological macromolecules from the lecture notes.

Element

A pure broken down substance.

Compound

A pure substance with many elements.

Isotope

Atoms of the same element with a different number of neutrons.

Covalent bond

A chemical bond where atoms share electrons to achieve an octet.

Ionic bond

A bond formed by the attraction between negative and positive ions.

Ion

An atom with a different number of electrons, carrying a charge.

Molecule

A combination of elements connected with chemical bonds.

Molecular formula

A formula showing how many atoms of each element are in a molecule

Molecular structure

A picture showing how atoms in a molecule are bonded together.

Isomer

compounds with the same molecular formula, but a different structure and function

Electronegativity

The attraction of electrons towards an atom itself.

Polarity

the unequal sharing of electrons between atoms in a molecule creating a positive end and a negative end

Nonpolar covalent bond

A bond in which two atoms share electrons equally.

Polar covalent bond

A bond in which electrons are not shared equally.

Hydrogen bonds

Weak bonds between slightly positive and slightly negative ends of atoms.

Cohesion

Attraction between water molecules.

Adhesion

Attraction between a water molecule and another molecule.

Surface tension

Strong attraction of water molecules that creates tension at the surface.

Functional group

A specific combination of atoms that always react the same way.

Hydroxyl group (OH)

polar functional group

found in alcohols, sugars, amino acids, and nucleotides

participates in dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis.

Carboxyl group (CHO2)

An acidic functional group found in acids, fats, and amino acids.

Amino group (NH2)

A basic functional group that picks up $H^+$ and is found in amino acids and proteins.

Sulfhydryl group (SH)

A functional group found in thiols, cysteine, and amino acids that forms covalent bonds in proteins.

Phosphate group (PO4)

functional group

$2-$ charge when ionized

reacts with water releasing energy

found in phospholipids, nucleotides, and ATP.

Methyl group (CH3)

A non-chemically reactive group that affects gene expression when attached to DNA, found in sex hormones and involved in genetic regulation.

Dehydration synthesis

A reaction that binds monomers to form polymers covalently producing water

Hydrolysis

The chemical reaction that breaks down polymers into monomers

Triglycerides

long-term energy

three fatty acids

a 3-carbon glycerol compound

3 $-OH$ groups.

Phospholipid

A lipid molecule with glycerol, two fatty acids, and a phosphate group and has Double membranes due to its polar heads and nonpolar tails.

Primary structure

The linear structure of amino acids in a protein held by covalent bonds.

Secondary structure

The twisting or coiling (alpha helix, beta-pleated sheets) of a polypeptide chain held together by hydrogen bonds.

Tertiary structure

The 3D folding of alpha helices and beta sheets in a protein.

Quaternary structure

The protein structure consists of multiple polypeptide chains.

Denaturing

When pH changes or heat rises, and causes the protein shape to unravel and break secondary and tertiary bonds

Vitamins

Organic compounds essential for efficient metabolic processes.

Steroids

Lipids recognized by a carbon skeleton composed of 4 carbon rings.