Unit 1 Test - Water, Macromolecules, Enzymes

pH

potential hydrogen; scale used to measure H+ ions in a solution

solution

when one substance is fully dissolved into another

polar molecule

a molecule with a positively charged region and a negatively charged region

hydrogen bonds

bonds that hold water molecules together; the cause of their unique properties

cohesion

the tendency for alike molecules to stick together, causes surface tension

specific heat capacity

water's ability to resist changes in temperature

expansion on freezing

when water freezes and becomes less dense, causing it to float

universal solvent

when water's polarity allows it to easily pull apart a solute's molecules

monosaccharide

monomer of carbohydrates

polysaccharide

polymer of carbohydrates

elements present in carbs

carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; 1:2:1 ratio

fatty acids

monomer of lipids

triglycerides

polymer of lipids; glycerol + 3 fatty acids

elements present in lipids

carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; NOT in 1:2:1 ratio

amino acids

monomer of proteins

polypeptide chain

polymer of proteins

elements present in proteins

carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen

3 parts of an amino acid

amino group, carboxyl group, variable R-group

what makes every amino acid unique

the variable R-group

nucleotide

monomer of nucleic acids

DNA and RNA

polymer of nucleic acids

primary function of carbs

short-term energy

primary function of lipids

long-term energy storage

primary function of nucleic acids

makes proteins

3 parts of a nucleotide

sugar, phosphate group, nitrogen base

what determines a protein's function

structure determines function

activation energy

amount of energy needed to start a chemical reaction

catalyst

a substance that lowers activation energy to speed up chemical reactions

active site

location where a substrate binds to an enzyme

denaturation

when the enzyme's active site shape is changed, breaking H bonds

factors affecting enzyme efficacy

temperature and pH

optimal conditions

the conditions (temperature and pH) that allow enzymes to work best

what causes denaturation

extreme temperatures or strong acids/bases

elements present in nucleic acids

carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus

acid

substance with a pH between 0 and 6.9

base

substance with a pH between 7.1 and 14