Introduction to Molecules of Life

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts introduced in the lecture on biological macromolecules and their properties.

Picometer Scale

A scale used to measure very small distances, such as atomic dimensions.

Supramolecular Chemistry

The study of molecular structures and assemblies that involve non-covalent interactions.

Covalent Bonding

Strong bonds formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms.

Non-Covalent Bonding

Weaker interactions that can be easily broken and reformed; essential for biological functions.

Hydration

The process of water molecules surrounding and interacting with solute molecules.

Hydrophilic

Substances that are attracted to water and can dissolve in it.

Hydrophobic

Substances that do not interact well with water and tend to be insoluble.

Angstrom

A unit of length equal to 10^-10 meters, commonly used in chemistry to measure atomic distances.

Micelle

An aggregated structure formed by amphiphilic molecules that can trap nonpolar substances.

Lipid Bilayer

A double layer of lipids that forms the structural basis of cell membranes.

Amphipathic

Molecules that have both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions.

Ionic Bond / Salt Bridge

An electrostatic interaction between positively and negatively charged ions.

Hydrogen Bond

A type of non-covalent bond created by the attraction between a hydrogen atom bonded to an electronegative atom and another electronegative atom.

Van de Waals Forces

Weak attractions between molecules or parts of molecules that result from transient local partial charges.

Functional Group

A specific group of atoms responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of a compound.

Phospholipid

A type of lipid molecule that is a major component of cell membranes, consisting of two fatty acids and a phosphate group.

Triglyceride

A type of lipid composed of three fatty acids linked to glycerol; used for energy storage.

Retinol

A form of vitamin A that is involved in vision and is derived from carotenoids.

Nucleic Acids

Biopolymers essential for all known forms of life, primarily RNA and DNA.

Carbohydrates

Organic compounds made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, used as a source of energy.

Proteins

Large biomolecules made up of one or more chains of amino acids, essential to various biological functions.