Carbon Chemistry and Macromolecules

Flashcards to review key vocabulary and concepts related to carbon chemistry and macromolecules.

Carbon Atom

An element that can form diverse molecules by bonding to four other atoms.

Monomer

A single building block that can link together to form polymers.

Polymer

A large molecule composed of many repeating subunits (monomers).

Macromolecules

Large organic molecules including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Hydrophobic

A property of molecules that do not interact well with water.

Hydrophilic

A property of molecules that interact well with water.

Functional Groups

Specific groups of atoms within molecules that confer specific chemical properties to those molecules.

Condensation Reaction

A reaction that links monomers together by releasing water.

Hydrolysis

A reaction that breaks down polymers into monomers by adding water. Energy Release.

Amino acid

The building blocks of proteins, containing an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a distinctive R-group.

Peptide Bond

A covalent bond formed between two amino acids during protein synthesis.

Nucleotide

The monomer of nucleic acids, consisting of a pentose sugar, a nitrogenous base, and a phosphate group.

Isomer

Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structures. (Pentane, hexane, Methyl-butane, and heptane are common examples of isomers.)

Saturated Fat

A type of fat that has no double bonds between carbon atoms and is typically solid at room temperature.

Unsaturated Fat

A type of fat that contains one or more double bonds between carbon atoms and is typically liquid at room temperature.

Hydrogen Bond

A weak bond that can form between polar molecules, playing a key role in the structure of proteins and nucleic acids.

Cholesterol

A type of steroid that is vital for cellular membrane structure and function.

Four single bonds form what type of shape?

Tetrahedral shape

Double and triple bonds form what type of shape

flat/planar

What are the carbon skeletons?

Straight/chain, Branching, Ring, double bond position

Carbohydrate

A macromolecule made of sugar units, fundamental for energy storage and structural support in living organisms.

Lipid

A class of macromolecules that are hydrophobic or insoluble in water, including fats, oils, and waxes, playing key roles in energy storage and cellular structure.

Protein

A macromolecule composed of one or more chains of amino acids, essential for various biological functions, including catalyzing reactions as enzymes, providing structural support, and facilitating communication between cells.

Nucleic acid

A macromolecule that carries genetic information, primarily composed of nucleotide monomers. They include DNA and RNA, which are crucial for heredity and protein synthesis.

Making polymers requires

The joining of monomers through chemical reactions, often involving condensation or dehydration synthesis. Also requires energy to form covalent bonds and remove water.

Monosaccharides

The simplest form of carbohydrates, consisting of single sugar molecules such as glucose and fructose. They serve as building blocks for more complex carbohydrates, like disaccharides and polysaccharides.

Glucose

A simple sugar that serves as a primary energy source for cells, it is a monosaccharide and plays a key role in cellular respiration.

Disaccharides

Carbohydrates formed from two monosaccharides linked by a glycosidic bond. Common examples include sucrose and lactose.

Maltose

Glucose + glucose

Surcose

Glucose + fructose

Lactose

Glucose + glactose

Polysaccharides

Carbohydrates formed from long chains of monosaccharides, providing energy and structural support.

What are lipids composed of

carbon, hydrogen, and sometimes oxygen. important groups are fats, steroids, and phospholipids

Fats

AKA glycerides or acylglycerol. Not a polymerbut are composed of fatty acids and glycerol. They serve as energy storage and insulation.

Major function of fats

1. energy storage

2. cushion for vital organs

3. insulation from heat loss

Glycerol

3 carbon, bind a max of 3 fatty acids

Fatty Acids

Carboxylic acids with long hydrocarbon chains that can be saturated or unsaturated, serving as key components of lipids.

Synthesizing a fat

involves the formation of ester bonds between glycerol and fatty acids.

Phospholipids

a class of lipids that are major components of all cell membranes, consisting of two fatty acids, a glycerol, and a phosphate group.

Steroids major function

is to act as hormones and signaling molecules in the body.

Steroids structure

is characterized by a four-ring carbon structure that includes various functional groups, influencing their biological activity.

Proteins

One or more polypeptide chain coiled and folded into a specific conformation, 3D shape that determines their function in biological processes.

Polypeptide chain

a sequence of amino acids linked by peptide bonds that forms part of protein structure.

Function of proteins

Proteins play crucial roles in catalyzing biochemical reactions, providing structure and support, facilitating transport, acting as receptors, enzymes, contractions, and regulating hormones and biological processes within organisms.

Amino Acids

Building blocks of proteins, organic compounds that combine to form polypeptides. Not found in proteins.

Structure of an amino acid

An amino acid consists of a central carbon atom bonded to an amino group, carboxyl group, hydrogen atom, and a variable R group that determines its identity.

Peptide chain synthesis

is the process by which amino acids are linked together through peptide bonds to form proteins.

Protein structure

refers to the specific three-dimensional arrangement of amino acids in a protein, which determines its function. Proteins can have primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures, each critical to their biological activity.

Primary structure

is the linear sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain, held together by peptide bonds. Genetically determined and dictates the overall shape and function of the protein.

Secondary structure

is formed by the folding or coiling of the polypeptide chain into alpha helices or beta sheets, stabilized by hydrogen bonds between backbone atoms. R-groups not involved

Tertiary structure

is the overall three-dimensional form of a protein, resulting from the interactions between R-groups of amino acids and stabilized by various types of bonds, including hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, and disulfide bridges.

Quaternary structure

is the assembly of multiple polypeptide chains into a single functional protein complex. This structure depends on the interactions between the R-groups of the different chains.

What determines conformation?

The conformation of a protein is determined by its primary structure (amino acid sequence) and the interactions between R-groups, including hydrogen bonds, ionic interactions, hydrophobic forces, and van der Waals forces. Environmental factors can cause denaturation.

Denaturation

is the process by which a protein loses its native structure due to factors like heat, pH changes, or chemicals, resulting in loss of function.

Function of nucleic acids

is to store and transmit genetic information, as well as to play roles in protein synthesis and regulation.

Components of nucleic acids

are nucleotides, which consist of a sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogenous base. These components link together to form the nucleic acid structure, such as DNA or RNA.

Pentose

is a five-carbon sugar that is a component of nucleotides in nucleic acids like DNA and RNA.

nitrogenous bases

are organic molecules that contain nitrogen and serve as the building blocks of nucleotides in nucleic acids. They include adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine (in DNA), and uracil (in RNA).

Nucleotide structure

consists of three components: a pentose sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. These components work together to form the basic building blocks of nucleic acids.

Nucleic acid structure

refers to the complex arrangement of nucleotides that form either DNA or RNA, incorporating the sequences of nitrogenous bases and structural features like double helices or single strands.