Chemistry of Life and Cells

Vocabulary flashcards covering the properties of water, pH, macromolecules, and cellular topics from the lecture.

Hydrogen Bond in Water

An intermolecular attraction formed between the partial positive ($\delta+$) hydrogen atom of one water molecule and the partial negative ($\delta-$) oxygen atom of another water molecule.

High Heat Capacity of Water

The property of water allowing it to hold large amounts of heat without drastic temperature changes, which is vital for maintaining thermal stability in living systems and the environment.

Polarity

The asymmetric distribution of electrical charge in a molecule, such as water, created by unequal electron sharing; it enables water to form hydrogen bonds and build complex biological structures.

Adhesion and Cohesion

Cohesion is water's ability to stick to itself through hydrogen bonding, whereas adhesion is water's ability to stick to other polar or charged surfaces.

Incredible Solvent

The characteristic of water to disrupt chemical bonds and form ions, allowing it to dissolve solutes and drive metabolic chemical reactions inside cells.

pH Scale

A scale ranging from $0$ to $14$ that measures how acidic or basic a solution is, where $0$ to $6$ represents acidic, $7$ is neutral, and $8$ to $14$ represents alkaline (basic).

Ion

An atom or group of atoms that has gained or lost one or more valence electrons, acquiring a net electrical charge.

Ionic Bond

A chemical bond resulting from the complete transfer of valence electrons from one atom to another, creating oppositely charged ions that attract each other.

Nonpolar Covalent Bond

A chemical bond in which electrons are shared equally between two atoms, resulting in no partial electrical charges across the bond.

Polar Covalent Bond

A chemical bond in which electrons are shared unequally between atoms due to differences in electronegativity, creating partial positive ($\delta+$) and partial negative ($\delta-$) charges.

Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic

Hydrophilic describes nonpolar or uncharged molecules that do not interact favorably with water, while hydrophilic describes polar or charged molecules that readily interact with water.

Surface Tension

The elastic property of a liquid surface caused by cohesive hydrogen bonding forces among water molecules.

Carbohydrate

A biological macromolecule with the basic formula $CH_2O$, consisting of monosaccharide monomers and polysaccharide polymers; used for cellular structures, cell signaling, and immediate energy.

Monosaccharide and Polysaccharide

Monosaccharides (such as glucose) are single sugar monomers, whereas polysaccharides (such as glycogen and starch) are long polymer chains of linked monosaccharide units.

Lipid

A class of nonpolar hydrocarbon macromolecule composed of fatty acid monomers that form polymers like oils, fats, waxes, and phospholipid bilayers; functions in structural support and long-term energy storage.

Saturated vs. Unsaturated Triglycerides

Saturated triglycerides have carbon chains fully saturated with single bonds (straight structure), whereas unsaturated triglycerides contain double bonds that create a bend or "kinky" shape in the hydrocarbon tail.

Phospholipids

Amphipathic lipid molecules possessing hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic fatty acid tails, which self-assemble into phospholipid bilayers forming biological cell membranes.

Prokaryote vs. Eukaryote

Prokaryotes are single-celled organisms lacking a nucleus and internal membrane-bound organelles, whereas eukaryotes possess a membrane-bound nucleus and compartmentalized membrane-bound organelles.

Compartmentalization

The division of the eukaryotic cell interior into discrete membrane-bound organelles, enabling isolated biochemical reactions to occur efficiently under specific conditions.

Endosymbiotic Theory

The evolutionary theory stating that eukaryotic organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts originated from free-living prokaryotic cells that were engulfed by an ancestral eukaryotic host cell.

High Heat Capacity (Water)

The property of water that allows it to hold lots of heat, which is important for both the environment and living systems.

Polarity (Water)

The property of water that enables it to form hydrogen bonds, aiding in the formation of biological structures.

Adhesion and Cohesion

Adhesion is water's ability to stick to other surfaces, while cohesion is water's ability to stick to itself.

Incredible Solvent (Water)

Water's ability to disrupt bonds and make ions, allowing it to drive chemical reactions in cells.

pH Scale

A scale from 0 to 14 indicating solution reactivity, categorized into acidic (0 to 6), neutral (7), and alkaline (8 to 14).

Hydrogen Bond and Polar Covalent Bond

Polar covalent bonds connect hydrogen and oxygen within a single water molecule, whereas hydrogen bonds are attractions between separate water molecules.

Carbohydrates

Biological macromolecules with the formula ratio $\text{CH}_2\text{O}$ whose monomer is a monosaccharide and polymer is a polysaccharide; used for structures, signaling, and immediate energy.

Glucose

An example of a monosaccharide (carbohydrate monomer).

Glycogen

An example of a polysaccharide (carbohydrate polymer).

Lipids

Nonpolar hydrocarbon macromolecules whose monomer is fatty acid and polymers include oils, fats, phospholipid bilayer, and waxes; used as structural support and long-term energy storage.

Structures of Carbohydrates and Lipids

Diagram showing chemical representations of lipids such as palmitic acid and linoleic acid, alongside carbohydrates such as starch and glucose.

Compartmentalization

The organization of cellular contents into specific membrane-bound internal environments within eukaryotic cells.

Endosymbiotic Theory

A theory shaping how Mitochondria and Chloroplasts are viewed regarding their evolutionary origins and cellular structures.