Chp 2-2 The Chemistry of Life

Biosynthesis

The process by which living organisms produce larger molecules from smaller ones.

Organic Compound

Compounds that contain carbon

Carbohydrate

Compound made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms; major source of energy for the human body

Monosaccharide

A single sugar molecule such as glucose or fructose, the simplest type of sugar.

Glucose

A simple sugar that is an important source of energy.

Disaccharide

A double sugar, consisting of two monosaccharides joined by dehydration synthesis.

Dehydration Synthesis

A chemical reaction in which two molecules covalently bond to each other with the removal of a water molecule.

Sucrose

Table sugar

Lactose

Milk sugar

Hydrolysis

Breaking down complex molecules by the chemical addition of water

Polysaccharide

Carbohydrates that are made up of more than two monosaccharides

Starch

energy storage in plants

Glycogen

An extensively branched glucose storage polysaccharide found in the liver and muscle of animals; the animal equivalent of starch.

Cellulose

Hard, nonliving material that makes up the cell wall of a plant cell

Chitin

A chemical that provides both toughness and flexibility

Lipids

Fats and oils for storing energy

Hydrophilic

water loving

Hydrophobic

Water fearing

Saturated

Fats with the maximum number of hydrogens.

Unsaturated

Fat with less than the maximum number of hydrogens in one or more of its fatty acid chains

Protein

An organic compound that is made of one or more chains of amino acids and that is a principal component of all cells

Amino Acid

Building blocks of protein

Peptide Bond

The chemical bond that forms between amino acids

Enzyme

biological catalyst

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