BIOLOGY-chapter 3 vocabulary

Organic compound

Molecules mainly made of carbon atoms

Functional group

Groups of atoms that influence the characteristic/properties of a molecule

Monomer

Small, simple molecules that bind together to form polymers

Polymers

A large molecule composed of many monomers

Macromolecule

A large polymers

Condensation reaction

A chemical reaction in which molecules (monomers) combine and water is produced

Hydrolysis reaction

A chemical reaction that uses water to break down polymers

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

The main energy molecule of cells

Carbohydrate

Organic compound composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen

Monosaccharide

The monomer of a carbohydrate. Simple sugar

Disaccharide

Double sugar

Polysaccharide

Mini sugars. Three or more monosaccharides bonded together

Protein

Organic compound composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen

amino acid

The monomers of proteins

Peptide bond

Covalent bond formed when amino acids linked together to form a protein

Substrate

The substance that an enzyme works on

Polypeptide

Long chain of amino acids

Active site

Site on the enzyme where the substrate fits

Lipid

Large, nonpolar molecules. Do not dissolve in water

Fatty acid

Nonpolar carbon chains found in lipids

Phospholipids

A lipid (oil) with two nonpolar tails and a polar head group that are the most important part of a cell membrane

nucleic acid

Molecules that store and transfer information in cell

Nucleotide

Basic unit of a nucleic acid

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

The molecule that directs cell activities

Ribonucleic acid (RNA)

Directs the making of proteins