Chemistry Review

Medical Microbiology Chapter 2

C & H

elements that make up organic molecules (along with O, N, S, & P)

carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids

4 basic categories of organic molecules found in living organisms

dehydration reaction

method by which bonds between organic subunits in a polymer are created

hydrolysis

method by which bonds between organic subunits in a polymer are destroyed

pH

measure of hydrogen ions [H+=molar concentration] that determines acid/base

ionic bonds

attractions between ions of opposite charge; one atom loses electrons and another gains electrons

covalent bonds

form when 2 atoms share one or more pairs of electrons

hydrogen bonds

occur between polar molecules possessing hydrogen and oxygen

hydrophobic interaction

attraction of non polar molecules

inorganic compounds

lack carbon

acid

substance that dissociates into one or more H+

base

substance that dissociates into one or more OH-

salt

substance that dissociates into cations and anions (neither of which is H+ or OH-)

6.5-8.5

pH range in which most organisms grow best

generalizations for organic molecules

~all composed of subunits (monomers) joined together to form macromolecule (polymers)

~monomers are joined together by loss of H2O between monomers

~energy is required to join monomers together; released when broken

carbohydrate

monomer: monosaccharide

polymer: polysaccharide

lipid

monomer: glycerol + fatty adic

polymer: fats, oils, waxes

protein

monomer: amino acid

polymer: protein or polypeptide

nucleic acid

monomer: nucleotide

polymer: nucleic acid

monosaccharides

simple sugars with 3-7 carbon atoms

disaccharides

formed when 2 monosaccharides are joined by dehydration synthesis (broken by hydrolysis)

polysaccharides

made of many carbon rings; glycogen, starch, cellulose

peptide bonds

form between amino acids by dehydration synthesis

nucleotide

5 carbon sugar + phosphate group + nitrogen base

DNA

deoxyribose, double helix, AT, CG

RNA

ribose, AU, CG

ATP

ribose + adenine + 3 phosphate groups; important energy compound and part of RNA

immediate energy, stored energy, structural molecules

carbohydrate function

long-term energy storage, membrane components

lipid function

support, metabolic, transport, regulation, motion

protein function

storage of genetic information

nucleic acid function