Biomolecules and Enzymes Flashcards

Flashcards about biomolecules, basic molecules, and enzymes.

What are the most common elements in living organisms?

Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen.

What makes a molecule organic?

It must contain carbon and hydrogen bonds.

How many electrons does carbon have in its outer shell, and how many atoms can it bond with?

Carbon has 4 electrons in its outer shell and can bond with up to four other atoms.

What type of bonds does Carbon usually form?

Covalent bonds

What is a key property of carbon that allows for a diversity of organic molecules?

Its ability to bind to itself, forming chains of different lengths and shapes.

What are functional groups?

Clusters of certain atoms that always behave in a certain way when attached to a carbon chain.

What property do hydrocarbon chains possess?

They are hydrophobic.

What is the effect of a functional group forming ions on an organic molecule?

It can make the organic molecule hydrophilic.

What are isomers?

Molecules that have identical molecular formulas but different arrangements of atoms.

What are structural isomers?

Isomers that differ in the placement of their covalent bonds.

What is another name for Geometric isomers?

stereoisomers

What property do solid compound solutions possess that allows them to rotate polarized light?

Optical activity.

What is a dextro-rotatory isomer?

An isomer that rotates the plane of polarization to the right (D-isomer).

What is a laevo-rotatory isomer?

An isomer that rotates the plane of polarization to the left (L-isomer).

What is required for a carbon atom to be considered asymmetric?

It must have four different atoms or groups attached to it.

What is a chiral compound?

A compound that has mirror images.

What is the configuration of sugars and amino acids typically found in living organisms?

Sugars are typically of the D form, while amino acids are of the L form.

What are monomers?

Smaller units from which larger molecules (polymers) are made.

What are polymers?

Molecules made from a large number of monomers joined together in a chain.

What is polymerization?

The process by which small subunits (monomers) bond with repeating subunits to form large molecules (polymers).

What are macromolecules?

Very large molecules containing 1000 or more atoms with a high molecular mass.

What is a condensation reaction?

A reaction where monomers combine together by covalent bonds to form polymers and water is removed (also known as dehydration synthesis).

What is hydrolysis?

A reaction where polymers are broken down by adding water, breaking covalent bonds.