bchm 450 chap 1

what is the most abundant component of the human body by mass

water = (~60% of body mass).

What are the two most abundant biomolecules in the human body?

Proteins (16%) and triglycerides (13%).

What type of bond holds water molecules together?

Hydrogen bonds.

What is the pH of arterial blood?

Approximately 7.4.

What is the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation?

pH = pK + log([A⁻]/[HA])

What buffer system is the most important in blood?

Carbonic acid/bicarbonate buffer system.

What is the difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids?

Saturated: no double bonds; Unsaturated: at least one double bond.

What type of reaction forms a peptide bond?

Condensation reaction (removal of water).

What type of bond links nucleotides in DNA and RNA?

Phosphodiester bond.

Which sugar is the main monosaccharide used in metabolism?

D-glucose.

What is an epimer?

isomers that differ in configuration at one asymmetric carbon.

What kind of isomers are mirror images of each other?

Enantiomers.

What are the 5 types of noncovalent interactions in biomolecules?

Hydrogen bonds, electrostatic interactions, ion-dipole interactions, hydrophobic interactions, van der Waals forces.

What are the components of a nucleotide?

Pentose sugar, phosphate group(s), nitrogenous base.

What are the four major classes of biomolecules

Triglycerides, carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids.

What is the significance of the pK value in acid-base chemistry?

It indicates the pH at which the group is 50% protonated and 50% deprotonated.

How do acids and bases behave at pH values above and below their pK?

Below pK: group is protonated; Above pK: group is deprotonated.

What type of bond is formed in triglycerides?

Ester bond between glycerol and fatty acids.

What kind of structure do most monosaccharides adopt in water?

Ring structures (pyranose or furanose).

: What type of reaction breaks down polymers into monomers?

Hydrolysis.