A&P chapter 2: chemical basics

matter

anything that takes up space and has mass

mass

amount of mater present

weight

heaviness due to gravitational pull

chemistry

studies composition, properties, interaction of matter

biochemistry

biological chemistry, which studies physiological process and disease

elements

simplest types of matter with certain chemical properties

compounds

chemical combinations of different elements

atom

smallest particles of an element that have properties of that element

bulk elements

required by the body in large amounts

trace elements

required by the body is small amounts

ultratrace elements

required by the body in very minute

proton

a positively charged particle in the nucleus of an atom Mass=1

neutron

an electrically neutral particle in the nucleus Mass=1

electron

an electrically negative particle that revolves around the nucleus (orbitals) Mass=0

atomic number

represents the number of protons in its nucleus

mass number

an atom is equal to the number of protons plus the number of neutrons in its nucleus

isotope

atoms of an element that have the same atomic number but different mass number

molecule

particle formed when two or more atoms chemically combine

compound

particle formed when two or more atoms of different elements combine

molecular formulas

depict the elements present and the number of each atom present in the molecule

ions

atoms that have lost or gained electrons to fill their valence shell

cation

a positively charged ion

anion

a negatively charged ion

covalent bond

formed by the equal sharing of electrons between atoms

polar bond

one end of the molecule is slightly positive, one end of the molecule is slightly negative

hydrogen bond

a weak bond formed between hydrogen atoms and another atom

chemical reaction

occurs whenever chemical bonds are formed, rearranged or broken

synthesis

the building of a large molecule (polymer) from smaller building blocks (monomers)

decomposition

breaking a large molecule (polymer) down into its building blocks (monomers)

endergonic

bonds are formed

exergonic

bonds are broken

dehydration

water is usually removed from building blocks to form a bond

hydrolysis

water is used to break bonds

exchange reactions

involve degradation followed by synthesis

reversible reactions

products can be changed back to reactants

buffers

prevent abrupt change in pH

inorganic substances

small compounds that do not contain the atoms C and H

water

poplar molecule that demonstrates hydrogen bonding and therefore it possesses very unique characteristics

hydrolysis (degradation)

when water is used to break bonds between molecules

oxygen

gas that is transported in the blood

used to release energy from nutrient molecules

carbon dioxide

a by-product of cellular respiration

organ substances

contains the atoms carbon (and hydrogen)

dehydration synthesis

removal of water to form a covalent bond between mononmers

hydrolysis

using water to break bonds between monomers

carbohydrates

contains H,C, and O in a 1:2:1 ratio

monosaccharides

monomers (building blocks) are hexoses

glucose

fructose

galactose

disaccharides

2 monosaccharides covalently bonded together

maltose = glucose + glucose

lactose = glucose + galactose

sucrose = glucose + fructose

polysaccharides

many glucose molecules covalently bonded together

glycogen

animal storage carbohydrate; stored in liver and skeletal muscle

lipids (fats)

contain C,H, and O, but much less O than in carbohydrates

energy storage / energy source

saturated fats

have only single bonds between the carbons in their fatty acid chains

unsaturated fats

have one or more double bond between the carbons in their fatty acid chains

“trans” fats

unsaturated fats that have been solidified by artificial means

phospholipids (cell membrane)

triglyceride with the substitution of a polar phosphate group for one fatty acid chain

steroids

four interconnected carbon rings

protein

monomers = amino acids

peptide bond

bond formed of amino acids

functions of proteins:

structure

keratin in hair, nails and skin

functions of proteins

transport

hemoglobin (carries oxygen)

functions of proteins

chemical messengers

hormones, neurotransmitters

functions of proteins

movement

actin and myosin in muscle

functions of proteins

defense

antibodies

functions of proteins

catalysts

enzymes

nucleic acids

DNA, RNA

DNA

contains all necessary information needed to sustain and reproduce life

RNA

transport DNA code during protein synthesis

hydrophilic

soluble in water

lipophilic

soluble in lipid