Biochemistry- Unit 2

monomer

The building blocks of macromolecules

universal solvent

a substance (water) that dissolves more solutes than any other substance because WATER IS POLAR

carbohydrate

"Compound containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in the approximate ratio of C:2H:O (e.g., sugars, starches, and cellulose)"

protein

Class of nutrients made up of amino acids. They are needed to build and repair body structures, and to regulate processes in the body

lipid

Organic molecules made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen and store food energy until needed (Fats)

nucleic acid

A biological macromolecule (DNA or RNA) composed of the elements C, H, N, O, and P that carries genetic information.

amino acid

Monomer of protein. There are only 20.

monosaccharide

A simple sugar that is the basic subunit of a carbohydrate

nucleotide

Monomer of nucleic acids made up of a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base

fatty acids

Building Blocks of Lipids

macromolecule

A very large molecule (as of a protein, nucleic acid, or carbohydrate) built up from smaller chemical structures

enzyme

A protein that makes a reaction happen QUICKER; decreases activation energy of a reaction.

glucose

A simple sugar that is an important source of energy.

Substrate

A substance on which an enzyme acts on during a chemical reaction.

High specific heat

A property of water. Water can absorb lots of heat before changing temperature

Carbon and Hydrogen

Elements in ALL living organisms. Considered organic

Catalyst/Enzyme

A substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction.

organic

any compound that contains carbon

denature

A change in the shape of a protein (such as an enzyme) that can be caused by changes in temperature or pH (among other things).

Activation energy

The minimum amount of energy needed to start a chemical reaction

active site

Region of an enzyme into which a particular substrate fits.

Polar

Describes a molecule with opposite charges on opposite ends

Adhesion

Tendency of water to stick to other substances

Cohesion

Tendency of molecules of the same kind to stick to one another

Hydrophillic

Attracted to water molecules, "water loving"

Hydrophobic

Repelled by water molecules, "water fearing" Example: oil/wax

Solvent

A substance that dissolves another.

Negative

In a water molecule, Oxygen has a partially \___ charge.

Positive

In a water molecule, Hydrogens have a partially \___ charge.

H₂O

The formula for water

pH Scale

Ranges from 0 to 14. Measures the amount of H+ in solutions.

Acid

any solution that is 0-6.9 on the pH Scale. Measures more H+ than OH-

Base

any solution that is 7.1-14 on the pH scale. Measures more OH- than H+

Neutral

solution that is 7 on the pH scale - water is an example. Equal H+ to OH-

Hydrgoen bonding

bonding between two water molecules. One negative oxygen bonding to another water molecule's positive hydrogen

Covalent bonding

a bond formed when atoms share one or more pairs of electrons

Ionic bonding

Chemical bonding that results from the electrical attraction between positive and negative ions

Reactant

A chemical substance that is present at the start of a chemical reaction

Product

A substance made in a chemical reaction

compound

a pure substance that is formed when 2 or more elements combine

ion

an atom that has a negative or positive charge because it has gained/lost an electron

6 main elements?

Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, Sulfur

Water is?

Polar

Polar molecules

Water has a positive side and a negative side

Forms Hydrogen bonds

Attraction between the positive end of 1 water molecule & the negative

Expands when frozen

Frozen water is less dense than liquid water

Capillary Action

Water moves against gravity due to cohesion/adhesion

Surface tension

Water makes a film on the surface due to cohesion/adhesion

if temperature rates are too low?

reaction rates are slow