Unit 2 part 3a:Comprehensive Study Notes on Cellular Chemical Reactions and Reaction Types

Flashcards covering key terms and definitions of biological chemical reactions, including synthesis, decomposition, exchange, dehydration, hydrolysis, and reversible reactions.

Reactants

The starting molecules in a chemical reaction that undergo chemical bond breakage to form new products.

Substrates

The general term used in biochemistry for reactants that undergo a chemical reaction.

Product

The result of a chemical reaction formed after breaking covalent bonds in the reactants and forming new chemical bonds.

Synthesis Reaction

A chemical reaction where smaller items or molecules are bonded together to make a product that is a bigger molecule.

Anabolic

A term referring to a synthesis reaction that builds up a bigger molecule from smaller items.

Decomposition Reaction

A chemical reaction that starts with a big molecule and breaks bonds to form smaller product molecules.

Exchange Reaction

A reaction involving two substrates in which a part of one substrate is removed and attached to the other substrate.

Dehydration Reaction

A synthesis reaction where a hydroxyl group ($\text{OH}$) from one monomer and a hydrogen ($\text{H}$) from another monomer are removed to form a covalent bond, releasing water as a product.

Hydrolysis

A decomposition reaction in which water is a reactant that is broken down to split a larger molecule into smaller monomers.

Reversible Reaction

A chemical reaction indicated by a double arrow that can proceed in both the forward and reverse directions.