Cellular-Molecular Chem Unit

Weak, noncovalent interactions due to fluctuating electrical charges when two atoms are within short distance of each other; includes hydrogen bonds

Van der Waals Force

noncovalent interaction that forces together hydrophobic portions of dissolved molecules (to minimize their disruption of water’s hydrogen bond network)

Hydrophobic force

Force that draws together oppositely charged atoms (includes ionic bonds and attraction between molecules with polar covalent bonds)

Electrostatic attractions

What forms when elements lose or gain electrons?

Ions

Atom that lost electron(s), giving a positive charge

Cation

Atom that gained electron(s), giving a negative charge

Anion

Ionic bonds are broken in what? (ex: water)

Polar solvents

Facilitates “weak” interactions of biological molecules, resulting in strong attraction

Complimentary shapes

Is energy source and subunit of polysaccharides. Building block of Polysaccharides, Glycogen, and Starch.

Sugars

Building block of proteins.

Amino acids

Components of cell membranes. Building block of fats and membrane lipids.

Fatty Acids

Building block of nucleic acids

Nucleotides

Sharing of electrons

Covalent bond

Transfer (Gain and Loss) of electrons

Ionic bonding

Which type of bond is strong enough to survive the
conditions inside cells and involves the sharing of
electrons?

Covalent bonds

A weak attraction that forms between a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom (oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine), and another nearby electronegative atom with a lone pair of electrons

Hydrogen bond

Two molecules are combined to form a single molecule, with the loss of a small molecule, like water. Energetically unfavorable.

Condensation

A chemical is broken down into two or more smaller pieces by the addition of a water molecule. Energetically unfavorable.

Hydrolysis

What bond is a fatty acid head?

Hydrophobic hydrocarbon

What bond is a fatty acid tail?

Hydrophilic Carboxylic

What type of reaction forms a disaccharide from two
monosaccharides?

Condensation

Which part of an amino acid determines its unique
chemical properties?

Side chain (R group)

How are the amino acid chains arranged in a Beta sheet?

Above and below the sheet

Disulfide bonds form between which amino acid side chains to stabilize protein structure?

Cysteine

What structural feature prevents rotation around a carbon-carbon bond?

Planar Geometry

A molecule with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts

Amphipathic

What molecule is likely to form hydrogen bonds with water?

Polar group w/ N, O, or F

Which structural feature distinguishes a β sheet from an α helix in protein secondary structure?

Parallel and antiparallel alignment

Guides proper protein folding

Chaperone Proteins

What bond stabilizes protein structure?

Disulfide bonds

Which type of bond is most affected by the aqueous environment inside cells?

Ionic bond