AP Bio Unit One: Chemistry of Life

Vocab, concepts, models, etc.

Polar

Partial positive charge on one end, Partial negative charge on the other end.

Non-Polar

Molecules are equally charged

are polar molecules hydrophobic or hydrophilic?

hydrophilic (attract and dissolve in water well)

are non-polar molecules hydrophobic or hydrophilic?

hydrophobic (do NOT attract and dissolve water in well) 

Cohesion

water sticks to water

Adhesion

water sticks to OTHER things

High specific heat 

It takes a lot of energy to change the temperature of water 

Evaporative cooling

water takes energy when it evaporates

Ice floats because..

it is LESS dense than LIQUID water

Universal solvent 

WATER can dissolve many substances 

Cohesion and adhesion help with what?

Capillary Action

Capillary action

Liquid climbing in narrow spaces without the need of external forces, like oxygen

Why is waters high specific heat so important?

It stabilizes temperature in cells and ecosystems

Why is evaporative cooling important?

helps to keep organisms cool when sweating or transpiring

Why is ice being less dense important?

keeps bodies of water (lakes, oceans, etc.) from freezing to the bottom, which helps life survive

Why is water being a universal solvent important? 

Its essential for chemical reactions and nutrient transport

Water is the..

element of life

Water is Polar or Non-polar?

Polar (it has charged ends)

what causes surface tension in water?

Waters cohesive properties 

what are the key elements of life?

carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur. (CHNOPS) 

what are macromolecules?

large biological molecules (often times a polymer made up of smaller monomers)

what are the 4 MAIN types of macromolecules?

Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids 

what is a monomer?

single, simple molecules that function as building blocks to make polymers

what is carbons role?

backbone of ALL macromolecules / forms 4 bonds

what is hydrogens role?

part of water, organic molecules

what is nitrogens role?

found in proteins (aka amino acids) and nucleic acids 

what is oxygens role?

in water, which is needed for cellular respiration

what is phosphorus' role?

in DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid), RNA (ribonucleic acid), and ATP (Adenosine triphosphate)

what is sulfurs role?

found in some amino acids and proteins 

What key elements are found in carbohydrates?

carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (CHO)

what is the monomer in carbohydrates?

monosaccharides (aka simple sugar)(ex: glucose)

what is the function of carbohydrates?

quick energy and cell wall structure 

what are the key elements in lipids?

Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (CHO)

what are the monomers in lipids?

fatty acids + glycerol

what is the function of a lipid?

long-term energy, insulation, and the structure and function of cell membranes

are lipids considered polymers?

no 

which two macromolecules share the EXACT same key elements?

carbohydrates and lipids

what are the key elements in proteins?

carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur (CHONS)

what is the monomer of proteins?

amino acids 

what is the function of proteins?

enzymes, structure, and communication 

which two elements in proteins are NOT found in carbohydrates or lipids?

nitrogen and sulfur 

what key elements are found in nucleic acids?

carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus (CHONP)

what are the monomers for nucleic acids?

nucleotides (adenine, thymine, cytisine, guanine, and uracil)

what is the function of nucleic acids?

store and transmit genetic info in ALL living organisms (DNA/RNA) 

what element is found in nucleic acids that is NOT found in proteins, lipids, or carbohydrates?

phosphorus

thymine is only found in.. 

DNA 

uracil is only found in..

RNA

what does adenine pair with?

thymine (in DNA) and uracil (in RNA)

what does guanine ALWAYS pair with?

cytosine 

what does cytosine ALWAYS pair with?

guanine

without the key elements, what happens?

cells cannot grow, reproduce, or maintain structure

what PROCESS is needed to build macromolecules?

dehydration synthesis

what happens during dehydration synthesis?

two monomers join to form a polymer

what is removed during dehydration synthesis?

water

why is dehydration synthesis important?

it’s how carbs, proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids are made

what is required during dehydration synthesis?

enzymes and energy (ATP) in the cells

what happens during hydrolysis?

polymer is BROKEN into monomers by adding water to break the bond

why is hydrolysis important?

used in digestion and recycling molecules / releases energy and building blocks for cell

what model does this represent?

hydrolysis (water is being ADDED)

what model does this represent? 

dehydration synthesis (water is being REMOVED)

what is the basic ratio in carbohydrates?

1:2:1 (like C6 H12 O6)

what are disaccharides? 

TWO monosaccharides joined together by DEHYDRATION SYNTHESIS

what is an example of a disaccharide?

sucrose, because it’s made by combining GLUCOSE with FRUCTOSE

long chains of monosaccharides are called…

polysaccharides

what are the four main polysaccharides?

Cellulose, chitin, starch, and glycogen 

where is cellulose found?

in the cell walls of plants

where is chitin found?

it is found in fungi and insect exoskeletons (think of the sound cockroaches make when you step on them) 

where is starch found?

in plants

where is glycogen found?

in animals (includes humans)

what is the function of cellulose in plants?

provides structural support to the cell walls 

what is the function of chitin?

provides structural support in fungi and arthropods (insect) 

what is the function of starch?

energy storage in PLANTS

what is the function of glycogen?

energy storage in ANIMALS

all carbohydrates are formed via..

dehydration synthesis

all carbohydrates are broken down via..

hydrolysis

how do monosaccharides bond?

through covalent bonds (glycosidic bonds) using dehydration synthesis 

what is the function of a monosaccharide?

quick energy

what is the function of a disaccharide?

transport form of sugar in plants

what is the function of a polysaccharide? 

stores energy or structural support 

why are lipids NOT considered “true” polymers?

they do not have repeating monomers like carbs / proteins

are lipids hydrophilic or hydrophobic?

hydrophobic because they have NONPOLAR bonds

what are the major types of lipids?

Fats (triglycerides), phospholipids, steroids, and waxes 

what is the structure of a Fat (triglycerides)?

Glycerol + 3 fatty acids

what is the structure of a phospholipid?

glycerol + 2 fatty acids + phosphate group 

what is the structure of a steroid?

4 fused carbon rings (no fatty acids)

what are the structure of waxes?

long chains of alcohol + fatty acids

what is the function of fats? 

long term energy storage and insulation 

what is the function of phospholipids?

they make up cell membranes

what is the main function of steroids?

hormones (like testosterone or estrogen, etc.) and cholesterol in membranes

what is the function of waxes?

waterproofing in plants AND animals 

what are the two types of fatty acids?

saturated and unsaturated fats

which fatty acid has NO double carbon bonds?

saturated fats (notice how the structure is STRAIGHT) 

which fatty acids have one or more DOUBLE carbon bonds?

unsaturated fats (notice how they BEND/ are KINKED)

saturated fats stay in what state at room temp?

solid state (ex: butter)

unsaturated fats stay in what state at room temp?

liquid state (ex: olive oil) 

what are the main functions of lipids?

energy storage, insulation/protection, cell structure, and signaling

what are the two different unsaturated fatty acids?

monounsaturated (MUFA) & polyunsaturated (PUFA)

what bond is in MUFA’s?

ONE double bond (ex: olive oil) 

what bond is in PUFA’s?

TWO+ double bonds (ex: omega-3 and omega-6)

what are two ESSENTIAL fatty acids that come from our diet?

linoleic acid (omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3)