MAP Unit 3: Organic Chemistry

What are the four major organic compounds?

Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

What makes a compound organic?

It must contain both carbon and hydrogen.

What makes a compound inorganic?

It does not contain both carbon and hydrogen.

Is water organic or inorganic?

Inorganic because it does not contain carbon.

What are the four major organic compounds commonly called?

The Big Four.

What is the main structural feature of carbohydrates?

They are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen and commonly form ring-shaped structures.

What is the general formula for many carbohydrates?

(CH2O)n.

What does saccharide mean?

Sugar.

What is a monosaccharide?

A single sugar molecule.

What is a disaccharide?

Two sugar molecules joined together.

What is a polysaccharide?

Many sugar molecules joined together.

What are examples of polysaccharide-rich foods?

Noodles, bread, grains, and pasta.

What are examples of monosaccharides?

Glucose, fructose, and galactose.

What are two sugars found in nucleic acids?

Ribose and deoxyribose.

What is the main function of carbohydrates?

To provide the body's quickest and easiest source of energy.

How do cells get energy from glucose?

Mitochondria break down glucose during cellular respiration to produce ATP.

What are proteins made of?

Amino acids.

What elements are found in amino acids?

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen; some also contain sulfur.

What is the basic structure of an amino acid?

A central carbon attached to an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen, and a variable R group.

What does the R group represent?

The variable side chain that makes each amino acid different.

What is an amino group?

A chemical group containing nitrogen and hydrogen (NH2).

How many amino acids make up proteins?

20.

How many amino acids can the human body make?

11.

What are nonessential amino acids?

The 11 amino acids the body can produce itself.

What are essential amino acids?

The 9 amino acids that must be obtained through the diet.

Does nonessential mean unimportant?

No. All 20 amino acids are needed; nonessential means the body can make them.

What is a dipeptide?

Two amino acids joined together.

What is a polypeptide?

A chain of multiple amino acids joined together.

What is a protein?

One or more folded polypeptide chains that perform specific functions.

What bond joins amino acids together?

A peptide bond.

What does the suffix -ase usually indicate?

An enzyme, which is a protein that speeds up chemical reactions.

What enzyme breaks down maltose?

Maltase.

What are some functions of proteins?

Building muscles, blood, skin, hair, and other tissues; forming antibodies, enzymes, insulin, and hormones.

Are proteins primarily used for energy?

No. They are mainly used for structure and other important body functions.

What are lipids?

The scientific name for fats.

What are the two main components of a triglyceride?

One glycerol molecule and three fatty acid chains.

What is glycerol?

A three-carbon building block of triglycerides.

What are fatty acids?

Long chains that attach to glycerol to form triglycerides.

What is a saturated fat?

A fat whose fatty acid chains have no carbon-carbon double bonds and are fully saturated with hydrogen.

What are common characteristics of saturated fats?

They are commonly solid at room temperature and often come from animal sources.

What is an unsaturated fat?

A fat containing one or more carbon-carbon double bonds in its fatty acid chains.

What are common characteristics of unsaturated fats?

They are commonly liquid at room temperature and often come from plants and fish.

What is the main function of lipids?

Long-term energy storage and providing the most concentrated energy source.

Which organic compound provides the most energy per gram?

Lipids (fats).

Which organic compound provides the quickest energy?

Carbohydrates.

Which organic compound is the most energy-dense?

Lipids.

What are nucleic acids?

Organic compounds that include DNA and RNA.

What is the smallest building block of a nucleic acid?

A nucleotide.

What are the three parts of a nucleotide?

A sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.

What are the functions of nucleic acids?

They store and transmit genetic information and help direct protein synthesis.

What are the four nitrogenous bases in DNA?

Adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G).

What are the DNA base-pairing rules?

Adenine pairs with thymine (A-T), and cytosine pairs with guanine (C-G).

What sugar is found in DNA?

Deoxyribose.

What sugar is found in RNA?

Ribose.

How many strands does DNA have?

Two strands forming a double helix.

How many strands does RNA usually have?

One strand.

Which nitrogenous base is found in RNA instead of thymine?

Uracil (U).

What are the four nitrogenous bases in RNA?

Adenine (A), uracil (U), cytosine (C), and guanine (G).

What are the RNA base-pairing rules?

Adenine pairs with uracil (A-U), and cytosine pairs with guanine (C-G).

What does DNA do?

Stores genetic information in chromosomes.

What does RNA do?

Helps carry and use genetic instructions to make proteins.

What is a dinucleotide?

Two nucleotides joined together.

What is a polynucleotide?

A chain of three or more nucleotides.

What is ATP?

Adenosine triphosphate, a molecule that stores and supplies energy for cellular activities.

What are the three parts of ATP?

Adenine, ribose sugar, and three phosphate groups.

What does ATP stand for?

Adenosine triphosphate.

What does the A in ATP stand for?

Adenosine, which consists of adenine and ribose.

What does the T in ATP stand for?

Tri, meaning three phosphate groups.

What does the P in ATP stand for?

Phosphate.

How many phosphate groups does ATP have?

Three.

What happens when ATP loses one phosphate group?

It becomes ADP and releases energy.

What does ADP stand for?

Adenosine diphosphate.

How many phosphate groups does ADP have?

Two.

What does AMP stand for?

Adenosine monophosphate.

How many phosphate groups does AMP have?

One.

Which has more stored energy, ATP or ADP?

ATP.

What is the relationship between ATP and ADP?

ATP loses a phosphate group to become ADP and release energy; ADP can gain a phosphate to become ATP again.

What is the difference between carbohydrates and lipids as energy sources?

Carbohydrates provide quick energy, while lipids provide more energy per gram and are used for long-term energy storage.