Organic Compounds, Enzymes, Homeostasis, and Basic Chemistry

These flashcards cover key concepts and definitions from the lecture notes on organic compounds, enzymes, homeostasis, and basic chemistry.

Carbohydrates

Organic compounds made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, serving as a primary energy source for the body.

Lipids

Hydrophobic organic compounds including fats and oils, important for energy storage and cellular structure.

Proteins

Large organic molecules composed of amino acids, essential for structure, function, and regulation of the body's cells.

Nucleic Acids

Biomolecules like DNA and RNA that carry genetic information and play roles in protein synthesis.

Monosaccharides

The simplest form of carbohydrates, known as simple sugars, e.g., glucose.

Fatty Acids

Carboxylic acids with long hydrocarbon chains, important building blocks of lipids.

Glycerol

A three-carbon molecule that combines with fatty acids to form lipids.

Nucleotides

The building blocks of nucleic acids, consisting of a sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogenous base.

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

The primary energy carrier in cells, consisting of adenine, ribose, and three phosphate groups.

Dehydration Synthesis

A chemical reaction that joins two molecules by removing water.

Hydrolysis

A chemical reaction that breaks down a compound by adding water.

Amino Acids

Organic compounds that serve as the building blocks of proteins.

Enzymes

Biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in the body by lowering the energy of activation.

Active Site

The specific region of an enzyme where substrates bind and undergo a chemical reaction.

Substrate

The reactant(s) that an enzyme acts upon.

Buffer

A solution that resists changes in pH when small amounts of acid or base are added.

pH

A measure of the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution, indicating its acidity or alkalinity.

Cation

A positively charged ion.

Anion

A negatively charged ion.

Hydrogen Bond

A weak bond between two molecules resulting from an electrostatic attraction between a proton and an electronegative atom.

Polar Molecule

A molecule with a partial positive charge on one side and a partial negative charge on the other, leading to different properties.

Ionic Bond

A chemical bond formed between two ions of opposite charges.

Covalent Bond

A chemical bond that involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms.

Water Properties

Include polarity, adhesion, cohesion, and high specific heat, which are vital for physiological processes.

Antioxidant

A molecule that inhibits the oxidation of other molecules and helps protect cells from damage.

Acid

A substance that donates hydrogen ions and increases the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution.

Base

A substance that accepts hydrogen ions or donates a hydroxide ion in solution.

Atomic Number

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, determining its element.

Atomic Mass

The weighted average mass of an element's isotopes.