Energy and Diet - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from Unit 02: Energy and Diet.

Energy

The capability to do work; forms include solar energy, chemical energy (bonds), and mechanical energy (motion or position).

First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy can be converted between forms but is not created or destroyed.

Second Law of Thermodynamics

Energy transformations produce some energy as heat; no process is 100% efficient.

Entropy

A measure of disorder or lack of organization; cells require energy to maintain order.

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

The energy currency of cells; energy is stored in phosphate bonds and released to drive reactions.

Dehydration Synthesis

Monomers join to form polymers with the release of a water molecule.

Hydrolysis

Polymers are broken down into monomers by adding water.

Monomer

The small molecule that can join with others to form a polymer.

Polymer

A large molecule made from many monomers linked together.

Organic Nutrient

A molecule containing carbon and hydrogen (often with other elements).

Hydrocarbon

A molecule consisting of carbon and hydrogen atoms, forming chains or rings.

Functional Group

A specific group of atoms attached to a hydrocarbon that imparts characteristic chemical properties.

Hydroxyl Group

An -OH group found in alcohols and sugars.

Carboxyl Group

A -COOH group found in organic acids, amino acids, and fatty acids.

Amino Group

An -NH2 group found in amino acids and proteins.

Sulfhydryl Group

An -SH group found in cysteine and some proteins.

Phosphate Group

A -PO4H2 group found in ATP and nucleic acids.

Carbohydrates

Hydrophilic energy nutrients; quickly accessible energy; form monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides.

Monosaccharide

A simple sugar; examples include glucose, galactose, fructose.

Disaccharide

Two monosaccharide units linked together; examples include maltose, lactose, sucrose.

Polysaccharide

Long chains of glucose units; includes starch, glycogen, and fiber.

Starch

Polysaccharide that stores energy in plants; long-term energy storage.

Glycogen

Polysaccharide for short-term energy storage in animals.

Fiber

Polysaccharide that provides structural support in plants and is not digestible by humans.

Gluten

A protein in cereal grains; problematic for people with celiac disease due to autoimmune responses.

Lipids

Hydrophobic energy storage molecules; include triglycerides, cholesterol, and phospholipids.

Triglyceride

A molecule of glycerol bound to three fatty acids; main form of stored fat.

Cholesterol

Ring-like molecule important for cell membranes and hormone production.

Phospholipid

Lipid with a phosphate group; main component of cell membranes.

Fatty Acid

Long hydrocarbon chain; saturated (single bonds) vs unsaturated (double bonds; bent chains).

Amino Acid

The building blocks of proteins; have an amino group, a carboxyl group, a central carbon, and a variable R group.

Peptide Bond

Bond linking amino acids; formed by dehydration synthesis.

Polypeptide

A chain of amino acids that folds into a protein.

Primary Structure

Linear sequence of amino acids in a protein.

Secondary Structure

Local folding patterns such as alpha helices and beta pleated sheets stabilized by hydrogen bonds.

Tertiary Structure

Three-dimensional folding of a protein into a functional shape.

Quaternary Structure

Arrangement of multiple polypeptide chains into a larger protein complex.

Energy Drinks

Beverages that may not provide carbohydrates, lipids, or proteins as nutrients; claims about energy effects vary.