Biochemistry: Water Properties, pH, Macromolecules, and Enzymes

Comprehensive vocabulary review flashcards covering the properties of water, the pH scale, acids and bases, the four biological macromolecules, and chemical reactions and enzymes.

Adhesion

The property of water molecules attracting or sticking to molecules of different substances.

Cohesion

The attraction of water molecules to each other, allowing water to form droplets or a dome shape.

Surface Tension

The tightened layer on the surface of water caused by cohesive bonds between water molecules, allowing objects or insects to rest on top.

High Heat Capacity

The property of water requiring a large amount of heat energy to raise its temperature.

Universal Solvent

The characteristic of water that allows it to dissolve a wide variety of substances due to its polarity.

Polar Molecule

A molecule that has a slight positive charge on the hydrogen side and a slight negative charge on the oxygen side.

Solute

A substance that is dissolved in a solvent.

Solvent

A substance that dissolves a solute to form a solution.

Hydrogen Bond

A chemical bond or intermolecular attraction that forms between two different water molecules.

Acid

A chemical substance with a pH range of $0-7$ that releases $H^+$ ions and typically tastes sour.

Base

A chemical substance with a pH range of $7-14$ that releases $OH^-$ ions and typically tastes bitter.

Neutral Solution

A substance with a pH of $7$ where the concentrations of $H^+$ ions and $OH^-$ ions are equal.

Carbon

The primary element present in all macromolecules.

Protein

A macromolecule composed of amino acids that builds muscles and tissues and speeds up chemical reactions.

Amino Acids

The monomer building blocks that link together to make proteins.

Lipid

A macromolecule composed of fatty acids that serves as long-term energy storage.

Fatty Acids

The monomer subunits that make up lipids.

Carbohydrate

A macromolecule made of simple sugars that provides short-term, quick energy.

Nucleic Acid

A macromolecule composed of nucleotides that functions to store and pass on genetic information (such as DNA and RNA).

Nucleotide

The monomer subunit of nucleic acids.

Organic Molecules

Carbon-containing chemical compounds found in living organisms.

Macromolecule

A large organic molecule, also called a polymer, composed of smaller repeating subunits.

Monomer

The small individual subunit that links together to form a macromolecule.

Reactants

The starting substances located on the left side of a chemical reaction equation.

Products

The substances formed by a reaction, located on the right side of a chemical equation.

Biochemical Reaction

A chemical reaction that occurs specifically within a living organism.

Digestion Reaction

A chemical reaction that breaks bonds between molecules.

Synthesis Reaction

A chemical reaction that forms new chemical bonds.

Enzyme

A biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions within an organism.

Active Site

The specifically shaped region on an enzyme where a substrate binds.

Substrate

A specifically shaped reactant molecule that binds to the active site of an enzyme.

Denature

The process where an enzyme changes shape and stops functioning, caused by changes in temperature or pH level.