Unit 1: The Chemistry of Life

Organic Compounds

carbon based molecules

Functional Groups

chemical groups attached to carbon skeletons that give compounds their functionality

Hydrophilic

water loving (soluble in water)

Hydroxyl Group

-OH

Carboxyl Group

-COOH

Amino Group

-NH2

Macromolecules

Large molecules such as: carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids

Polymers

a large molecule consisting of many monomers linked together

Monomers

one of the repeating parts of a polymer

Dehydration Reaction

a reaction that removes water and combines monomers into polymers

Hydrolysis

a reaction where adding water breaks up a polymer into monomers

Enzymes

specialized macromolecules that speed up chemical reactions in cells

Carbohydrate

molecules ranging from the small sugar molecules to large polysaccharides like starches

Starch

a storage molecule used by plants

Glycogen

Molecule made by animals to store glucose

Hydrophobic

water fearing - repels water

Unsaturated Fatty Acid

fatty acid containing one or more double bonds

Saturated Fatty Acid

fatty acid containing only single bonds

Phospholipids

contain a phosphate group and have 2 fatty acid tails rather than three - makes cell membranes

Steroids

lipids containing 4 fused rings - includes cholesterol and testosterone

Cholesterol

component in cell membranes - comes from animal fats

Protein

a molecule made of amino acids

Amino Acids

Monomers (building blocks) of proteins

Peptide Bond

covalent linkage between peptides to form a poly peptide

Polypeptide

a polymer made of peptides

DNA

genetic inheritance polymer - Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid

Are most carbohydrates hydrophilic or hydrophobic?

hydrophilic

Are fats and lipids hydrophilic or hydrophobic?

hydrophobic

Denaturation

proteins or enzymes, lose their specific shape, and changes its function

Nucleotide

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

Antiparallel

The opposite arrangement of the sugar-phosphate backbones in a DNA double helix.

Contains C, H, O

Carbohydrates and lipids have these elements

Contains C, H, O, N, and sometimes S

Proteins have these elements

Contains C, H, O, N, and P

Nucleic Acids have these elements

Primary Structure

The first level of protein structure; the specific sequence of amino acids making up a polypeptide chain.

Secondary Structure

The second level of protein structure; the regular local patterns of coils or folds of a polypeptide chain.

Tertiary Structure

The third level of protein structure; the overall, three-dimensional shape of a polypeptide due to interactions of the R groups of the amino acids making up the chain.

Quaternary structure

The fourth level of protein structure; the shape resulting from the association of two or more polypeptide subunits.

peptide

short chain of amino acids

Lipids

Energy-rich organic compounds, such as fats, oils, and waxes, that are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

Polar

having an uneven distribution of charge - generally a positive and negative end

Nonpolar

Does not have an unequal distribution of charge. Does not mix with water.

Hydrogen bonds

Very weak bonds; occurs when a hydrogen atom in one molecule is attracted to the electrostatic atom in another molecule. Easily broken and reformed

Cohesion

Attraction between molecules of the same substance

Adhesion

An attraction between molecules of different substances

Surface tension

A measure of how difficult it is to stretch or break the surface of a liquid

Specific heat

The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of a substance by 1 degree celcius

Solvent

A liquid substance capable of dissolving other substances

Solute

A substance that is dissolved in a solution.

Solution

A homogeneous mixture of two or more substances