Chemistry final

Carbohydrate

a compound of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen that is an aldehyde or ketone derivative of polyhydroxyl alcohol. (e.g. sugars, starches, & glycogen)

Lipid

any of a diverse group of organic compounds including fats, oils, hormones, and certain components of membranes that are grouped together because they do not interact appreciably with water.

oils

a common name for a triacylglycerol that is a liquid at room temperature and contains a high percentage of unsaturated fatty acids.

wax

a type of lipid formed from the combination of unsaturated and/or saturated fatty acids and high molecular weight alcohols (not glycerol).

fats

a common name for a triacylglycerol that is a semisolid or solid at room temperature and contains a high percentage of saturated fatty acids.

steroids

any of a large class of organic compounds with a characteristic molecular structure containing four rings of carbon atoms (three six-membered and one five). They include many hormones, alkaloids, and vitamins.

protein

a biological component that is a polymer of many amino acids.

peptide bond

a bond formed from a dehydration reaction between the amino group on one amino acid with the carboxyl group on another amino acid.

nucleic acid

a complex organic substance present in living cells, especially DNA or RNA, whose molecules consist of many nucleotides linked in a long chain.

electronegativity

a measure of how strongly atoms attract bonding electrons to themselves. (Non-metals have the greater electronegativity, except for the Noble Gasses)

Nonpolar compounds

Nonpolar covalent bonds, with equal sharing of the bond electrons, arise when the electronegativities of the two atoms are equal. The result is a bond where the electron pair is displaced toward the more electronegative atom (they have no permanent dipole moment).

Hydrolysis

a chemical reaction in which a substance is broken down or dissociated by water. The primary decomposition method for lipids.

Glycerol

is a simple polyol compound. It is a colorless, odorless, viscous liquid that is sweet tasting and non-toxic. The glycerol backbone is found in many lipids which are known as glycerides. Used as humectants to reduce the loss of moisture.

Polar Compounds

compounds that have slight charges (slightly positive and slightly negative) within the compound. A polar bond has an uneven electron distribution and, therefore, a small charge separation

*Surfactants

(surface tension reducers/wetting agents/penetrating agents) – chemicals that will reduce the molecular cohesion of a liquid and thereby enable it to flow through smaller apertures. (ex: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate may be added to arterial fluid to aid in penetration

Primary structure

The amino acid sequence in a protein.

Secondary structure

(a-helices and ß-pleated sheets.) The way a chain of amino acids in a protein orients itself along its axis.

Zwitterion

the molecule as a whole is electrically neutral because the charges on the different functional groups balance each other out. A molecule or ion having separate positively and negatively charged groups. Formerly called a dipolar ion, is a molecule with two or more functional groups, of which at least one has a positive and one has a negative electrical charge and the net charge of the entire molecule is zero. Because they contain at least one positive and one negative charge, zwitterions are also sometimes called inner salts

Tertiary structure

(pendant group interactions) the way a protein bends and folds due to interactions between amino acids separated by significant distances on the amino acid chain

Quaternary structure

(multiple protein interactions.) The arrangement of protein subunits in space. Examples of proteins with quaternary structure include hemoglobin, DNA polymerase, and ion channels.

*Buffers

substances that in solution are capable of neutralizing, within limits, both acids and bases, thereby maintaining the original, or constant pH of the solution. (examples: Borax, Sodium Phosphate, Citrate, EDTA)

*Enzyme

a protein that acts as a biological catalyst.

*Quaternary ammonium compounds

surface active agents that are generally used for disinfection of skin, oral and nasal cavities, as well as instruments.

*Lysosomes

The recycling portion of a cell that is activated upon cell death.

*Autolysis

self-digestion or self-destruction of the body by autolytic enzymes.

Cavity fluid

concentrated preservative chemicals used in cavity embalming.

*Deodorants

chemicals having the capability of displacing an unpleasant odor or altering an unpleasant odor so that it is converted to a more pleasant one.