Biological molecules

elements, water and carbohydrates

atom

the smallest component of an element made of 3 parts proton neutron and electron

molecule

consists of 2 or more atoms joined together with covalent bonds

element

a substance that cannot be broken down any further and is defined by the number pf protons it posseses

compound

combination of 2 or more elements joined together chemically

organic

any large class of chemical compounds which contain carbon except for the oxides

inorganic

any substance in which 2 or more chemical elements other than carbon are combined

polarity

uneven distribution of charges within a compound

hydrogen bond

a relatively weak bond formed when partially positively charged groups come close to partially negative charged groups

surface tension

the skin on the surface of water formed as a result of hydrogen bonding in water molecules pulling the surface molecules downwards

solvent

a liquid that dissolves solids

metabolite

any substance involved in metabolism

monomer

the simplest repeating unit bonded together to form a polymer

polymer

a large molecule made up of many repeating smaller molecules covalently bonded together

condensation

chemical process in which two molecules bond covalently with elimination of a water molecule

hydrolysis

the breaking down of large molecules into smaller molecules by addition of water

monosaccharide

simple single sugar molecule

disaccharide

a molecule consisting of two monosaccharide sugars joined by a glycosidic bond

polysaccharide

a polymer consisting of many monosaccharide monomers covalently bonded together

triose

three carbon sugar

pentose

a five carbon sugar e.g. deoxyribose and ribose

hexose

a six carbon sugar

structural isomerism

compounds that have the same chemical formula but different structural formula

reducing sugar

a sugar that will reduce benedicts solution changing it from blue to brick red

non reducing sugar

a sugar that will not reduce benedicts solution

benedicts test

add benedicts solution to a solution of sugar in a test tube and heat in water bath at 100 degrees celsius for 2 mins changes from blue to brick red

iodide test

add iodine solution to starch changes from brown to blue black