Untitled Flashcard Set

Elements of Life

Life is primarily built from Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), Oxygen (O), Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Sulfur (S).

Carbon

Element that has 4 valence electrons and can form up to 4 covalent bonds, allowing complex structures.

Hydrogen Bonds

Intermolecular attractions that are crucial for the properties of water.

Functional Groups

Chemical groups attached to carbon skeletons that participate in chemical reactions.

Hydroxyl Group (–OH)

Functional group found in alcohols, polar and hydrophilic.

Carbonyl Group (C=O)

Functional group that includes aldehydes and ketones.

Carboxyl Group (–COOH)

Functional group that acts as acids, polar in nature.

Amino Group (–NH2)

Functional group that acts as bases, found in amino acids.

Phosphate Group (–PO4)

Highly charged functional group involved in energy transfer (ATP).

Methyl Group (–CH3)

Nonpolar functional group that affects gene expression.

Biomolecules

Four main classes are Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and Nucleic Acids.

Polymers

Chainlike macromolecules of repeating monomers.

Dehydration Reaction

Joins monomers together, releasing H₂O.

Hydrolysis

Breaks polymers apart using H₂O.

Monosaccharides

Simple sugars (e.g., glucose), serving as nutrients and fuel for cells.

Disaccharides

Two monosaccharides joined by glycosidic linkage, e.g., sucrose (glucose + fructose).

Polysaccharides

Many sugars joined by dehydration reactions, such as starch and cellulose.

Starch

A glucose polymer stored as energy in plants.

Glycogen

A storage form of glucose in animals, found in liver and muscles.

Cellulose

A glucose polymer that forms plant cell walls, indigestible by humans.

Lipids

Not true polymers, characterized by being hydrophobic (nonpolar), including fats, phospholipids, and steroids.

Fats

Consist of glycerol and 3 fatty acids, forming triglycerides connected by ester linkages.

Saturated Fatty Acids

Fatty acids with no double bonds, straight chains, solid at room temperature.

Unsaturated Fatty Acids

Fatty acids with one or more double bonds, kinked chains, liquid at room temperature.

Phospholipids

Molecules with 2 fatty acids, glycerol, and phosphate group, forming the bilayer structure in cell membranes.

Steroids

Compounds with four fused carbon rings, with different functional groups determining their type.

Cholesterol

A steroid that stabilizes animal cell membranes.

Testosterone

A hormone controlling male body functions.

Estrogen

A hormone controlling female body functions.

Cellulose vs Starch

Both are glucose polymers but differ in glycosidic linkages; starch is easily digestible while cellulose is not.

Alpha-Glucose Linkages

Type of linkage in starch that results in a helical structure.

Beta-Glucose Linkages

Type of linkage in cellulose that results in a straight, rigid structure.