The Chemical Basis of Life II: Organic Molecules

A set of flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to Chapter 3 of the biology lecture on the chemical basis of life and organic molecules.

Organic Molecules

Molecules containing carbon and hydrogen, abundant in living organisms.

Macromolecules

Large, complex organic molecules, often polymers made of many subunits.

Functional Groups

Groups of atoms in organic molecules that have specific chemical properties and functions.

Amino Group (-NH2)

Functional group that is weakly basic and polar, part of amino acids.

Carboxyl Group (-COOH)

Functional group that is acidic and forms part of peptide bonds, found in amino acids.

Glycosidic Bond

Covalent bond formed between two monosaccharides through a dehydration reaction.

Hydrolysis Reaction

Chemical process that breaks polymers into monomers by adding water.

Dehydration Reaction

Process of linking monomers to form polymers by removing water.

Polysaccharides

Carbohydrates composed of many monosaccharides linked together.

Starch

Energy storage polysaccharide in plants, composed of glucose polymers.

Cellulose

Structural polysaccharide that forms fibers, composed of beta-1,4 linked glucose.

Lipids

Organic molecules mainly composed of hydrogen and carbon, including fats and phospholipids.

Triglycerides

Type of fat formed by bonding glycerol to three fatty acids, important for energy storage.

Saturated Fats

Fats containing only single covalent bonds between carbon atoms, typically solid at room temperature.

Unsaturated Fats

Fats that contain one or more double bonds between carbon atoms, typically liquid at room temperature.

Energy Storage

The capacity of lipids and carbohydrates to store energy for later use.