Biomolecules and Carbon Chemistry

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the chemistry of carbon, dehydration synthesis, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins.

Carbon Valence Electrons

The electron configuration of carbon consisting of $4$ valence electrons, allowing it to form $4$ covalent bonds.

Carbon Backbone

The structural foundation formed by carbon for four major biomolecules: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Dehydration Synthesis

The process through which simple carbohydrates are formed, such as joining two monosaccharides into a disaccharide by removing a water molecule.

Glycosidic Bond

A covalent bond that forms between two sugars during dehydration synthesis.

Monosaccharide

The monomer of carbohydrates, consisting of one ring of carbon.

Disaccharide

A carbohydrate composed of two rings of carbon, formed when two monosaccharides join by removing a water molecule.

Polysaccharide

The polymer form of carbohydrates, consisting of more than two rings of carbon.

Cellulose

A strong fiber polysaccharide composed of long thin strands of glucose bonded together with glycosidic bonds; provides structural support in the cell wall of plants.

Chitin

A structural material for arthropod exoskeletons that contains glucose subunits and nitrogen.

Glycogen

An energy storage polysaccharide with a highly branched structure found in the liver and muscles of animals.

Starch

A polysaccharide used for energy storage in plants and an important energy source for humans.

Carbohydrates

Biomolecules composed of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen ($\text{CHO}$) that function in short term energy storage and structural support; non-food examples include maltose, fructose, cellulose, and chitin.

Lipids

Biomolecules composed of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen ($\text{CHO}$) with fatty acid tails and glycerol (no true monomer) and polymers such as triglycerides, phospholipids, and steroids; function in long term energy storage, cell membrane structure, and signaling.

Saturated Fats

Fats containing the maximum amount of hydrogen ($\text{max H}$) and all single-bonded carbon atoms; solid at room temperature (e.g., meats, ice cream, cheese).

Unsaturated Fats

Fats that do not have the maximum amount of hydrogen, contain one or more double-bonded carbon atoms causing a bend, and are liquid at room temperature (e.g., fruits, vegetables, nuts, oil).

Nucleic Acids

Biomolecules composed of $C, H, O, N, P$ whose main function is to contain genetic information; non-food examples include adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine, and uracil.

Nucleotide

The monomer of nucleic acids, consisting of three parts: a five-carbon sugar (ribose in RNA or deoxyribose in DNA), a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.

Polynucleotide

The polymer form of nucleic acids, formed by joined nucleotide monomers.

Proteins

Biomolecules composed of $C, H, O, N, S$ that function as enzymes (catalyzing cellular reactions), signals, transport, defense, and more; a protein's shape determines its function, and if altered, it can no longer function (examples: keratin, collagen).

Amino Acids

The monomer subunits that join together to build proteins.

Polypeptide Chain

The polymer form of proteins composed of linked amino acids.