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Polarity
Water molecules exhibit polarity, with hydrogen atoms carrying a slight positive charge and the oxygen atom carrying a slight negative charge.
Hydrogen Bonding
The ability of water molecules to form hydrogen bonds results in unique properties such as high surface tension and the ability to dissolve many substances.
Cohesion
Water molecules stick to each other due to hydrogen bonding, contributing to surface tension and water transport in plants.
Adhesion
The attraction of water molecules to other surfaces, facilitating processes like capillary action in plants.
High Specific Heat
Water's high specific heat capacity allows it to absorb significant amounts of heat without a large change in temperature, vital for stable environmental conditions.
Universal Solvent
Water's ability to dissolve a wide range of polar and ionic substances makes it essential for biochemical reactions and cellular processes.
Ice Floats
The crystalline structure of ice makes it less dense than liquid water, allowing it to float and insulate aquatic environments during cold weather.
Covalent Bonds
Carbon can form four covalent bonds, allowing it to create diverse and complex molecules essential for life.
Organic Molecules
Carbon is the fundamental building block of organic molecules, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
Functional Groups
Various functional groups can attach to carbon chains, altering their chemical properties and reactivity.
Isomerism
Carbon compounds can exist as isomers, leading to different properties despite having the same molecular formula.
Macromolecules
Carbon's ability to form long chains and rings allows for the creation of macromolecules essential for biological functions.
Carbohydrates
Composed of monosaccharides, they provide energy and structural support, with examples like starch and cellulose.
Lipids
Made from fatty acids and glycerol, lipids store energy, provide insulation, and form cell membranes.
Proteins
Composed of amino acids, proteins serve as enzymes, structural components, and transport molecules.
Nucleic Acids
Made from nucleotides, nucleic acids store and transmit genetic information, including DNA and RNA.
Dehydration Synthesis
A chemical reaction that forms bonds between molecules by removing water, crucial for macromolecule formation.
Hydrolysis
A reaction that breaks bonds by adding water, essential for the breakdown of macromolecules.
Primary Structure
The sequence of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds to form a polypeptide chain.
Secondary Structure
Local folding patterns of the polypeptide chain, stabilized by hydrogen bonds between the backbone atoms.
Tertiary Structure
The three-dimensional shape of a single polypeptide chain, resulting from interactions between amino acid side chains.
Quaternary Structure
Exists in proteins that consist of more than one polypeptide chain, with subunits interacting through various forces.
Enzymes
Proteins that act as catalysts, speeding up chemical reactions without being consumed.
Active Site
The specific region of the enzyme where the substrate binds, facilitating the conversion of substrates into products.
Induced Fit Model
The enzyme undergoes a conformational change upon substrate binding, enhancing the fit and likelihood of a reaction.
Enzyme Regulation
Enzymes can be regulated by inhibitors or activators, allowing for fine-tuning of metabolic pathways.
Metabolism
The sum of all chemical reactions occurring within an organism, encompassing both anabolic and catabolic pathways.
Anabolic Pathways
Pathways that build complex molecules from simpler ones, such as in photosynthesis.
Catabolic Pathways
Pathways that break down complex molecules to release energy, such as in cellular respiration.
ATP
The primary energy carrier in cells, releasing energy when hydrolyzed to ADP, driving various cellular processes.
