Unit 1 Life: Vocabulary Part 3: Chemistry of Life

organic compound

A compound that contains carbon

macromolecule/biomolecule

A very large organic molecule composed of many smaller molecules

monomer

a molecule that can be bonded to other identical molecules to form a polymer.

polymer

A long molecule consisting of many similar or identical monomers bonded together.

carbohydrate

macromolecule made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms (CHO); major source of energy for the human body

monosaccharide

simple sugar molecule; monomer of carbohydrates; glucose, fructose

disaccharide

A double sugar, consisting of two monosaccharides joined by dehydration synthesis; sucrose (table sugar)

polysaccharide

A polymer of a carbohydrate; thousands of simple sugars (monomers) formed by dehydration synthesis;

lipid

macromolecule made mostly from carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms (CHO); includes fats, oils, and waxes

fatty acid

a monomer of lipids

glycerol

Combines with fatty acids to make lipids.

nucleotide

monomer of nucleic acids made up of a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base

nucleic acid

macromolecule containing carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus atoms (CHONP)

protein

macromolecule that contains carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen atoms (CHON); needed by the body for growth and repair

amino acid

monomer of protein

Which macromolecule is this? How do you know?

This is a simple sugar (a carbohydrate). It has a carbon ring.

Which macromolecule is this? How do you know?

This is a lipid. It has two glycerols and two fatty acid chains. A fatty acid can be saturated or unsaturated.

Which macromolecule is this? How do you know?

This is a protein. Proteins are often depicted as "ribbons" to show their primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures.

Which macromolecule is this? How do you know?

This is a nucleic acid. It is made up of a simple sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogen base.

Which macromolecule is this? How do you know?

This is a nucleic acid (DNA).

Which macromolecule is this? How do you know?

This is starch, which is a carbohydrate. Starch is a polymer made up of many monosaccharides bonded together.

chemical reaction

process that changes one set of chemicals into another set of chemicals when bonds are broken and/or formed

reactant(s)

a substance that takes part in and undergoes change during a reaction.

product(s)

the substances that are formed by the chemical change during a reaction

dehydration synthesis

A chemical reaction in which two molecules are bonded together with the removal of a water molecule.

hydrolysis

A chemical reaction in which a molecule is broken apart by the chemical addition of a water molecule.

enzyme

A type of protein that speeds up a chemical reaction in a living thing