unit 1: chemistry of life

cohesion

molecular property of H2O that allows water to stick to other water molecules. creates surface tension.

adhesion

molecular property of water that allows water molecules to stick to other polar surfaces. allows for capillary action in vascular plants.

organic molecules

molecules that come from a living thing and feature carbon atoms bonded to each other.

carbohydrate

organic molecule made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (CHO)

protein

organic molecule made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur (CHONS). sulfur is used to form disulfide bridges in proteins.

lipid

organic molecule made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, as well as phosphorous in phospholipids (CHOP)

nucleic acid

organic molecule made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorous (CHONP)

polymer

large molecule made of smaller subunits called monomers

monomer

smaller subunit of a larger molecule called a polymer

hydrolysis

breakdown of polymers into monomers. a hydrogen ion (H-) from one water molecule attaches to one monomer, while the hydroxyl group (OH-) is added to the other, breaking the covalent bond.

dehydration synthesis

the building of monomers into polymers. a hydrogen ion (H-) is removed from one monomer and a hydroxyl (OH-) is removed from the other to form a new covalent bond between the monomers.

polymerization

connecting many monomers together to form a polymer.