The Chemistry of Life (Biochemistry)

This set of flashcards reviews key vocabulary terms and concepts related to biochemistry and the chemistry of life, aiding in exam preparation.

Chemical Reactions

Processes that underlie all physiological functions by forming, rearranging, or breaking chemical bonds.

Matter

Anything that has mass and occupies space, composed of elements.

Energy

The capacity to do work or put matter into motion; exists in potential and kinetic forms.

Element

A pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances; the building blocks of matter.

Atom

The smallest unit of an element that retains the properties of that element.

Proton

A positively charged subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom.

Neutron

A subatomic particle with no charge, located in the atom's nucleus.

Electron

A negatively charged subatomic particle that orbits around the nucleus of an atom.

Valence Shell

The outermost shell of an atom that contains electrons involved in chemical bonding.

Covalent Bond

A bond formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms.

Ionic Bond

A bond formed through the transfer of electrons, leading to the formation of charged ions.

Hydrogen Bond

A weak attraction between a covalently bonded hydrogen atom and another electronegative atom.

Polar Covalent Bond

A type of covalent bond where electrons are shared unequally between atoms, resulting in partial positive and negative charges.

Nonpolar Covalent Bond

A type of covalent bond where electrons are shared equally, resulting in no charge difference.

Acid

A substance that donates hydrogen ions (H+) in a solution.

Base

A substance that accepts hydrogen ions (H+) in a solution.

pH Scale

A logarithmic scale used to measure the acidity or basicity of a solution.

Catalyst

A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.

Enzyme

A biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions in living organisms.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

The primary energy carrier in cells, providing energy for various cellular processes.

Nucleotide

The monomer unit of nucleic acids, consisting of a sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogenous base.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)

The molecule that carries genetic information in living organisms, organized in a double helix.

RNA (Ribonucleic Acid)

A single-stranded nucleic acid involved in protein synthesis, containing ribose sugar.

Protein

Large biomolecules composed of amino acid monomers; play various crucial roles in the body.

Lipid

Hydrophobic organic molecules, including fats and oils, important for energy storage and cell structure.

Carbohydrate

Organic compounds made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, primarily serving as energy sources.

Monomer

A single molecule that can join together to form larger structures (polymers).

Polymer

A large molecule made up of repeating structural units (monomers).

Hydrolysis

A chemical process that breaks down polymers into monomers through the addition of water.

Dehydration Synthesis

A chemical reaction that bonds two molecules together by removing a water molecule.

Ribose

A five-carbon sugar found in RNA, differing from deoxyribose in DNA.

Phospholipid

A type of lipid with hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions, essential for cell membrane structure.

Cholesterol

A type of steroid found in cell membranes, involved in maintaining structural integrity.

Polypeptide

A chain of amino acids that forms a protein.

Glucose

A simple sugar and primary energy source for cells.

Glycerol

A three-carbon molecule that forms the backbone of triglycerides.

Fatty Acid

Carboxylic acids with long hydrocarbon chains, used to form lipids.

Saturated Fatty Acid

A fatty acid where all carbon atoms are connected by single bonds, saturated with hydrogen.

Unsaturated Fatty Acid

A fatty acid with one or more double bonds between carbon atoms, resulting in fewer hydrogen atoms.

Amino Acid

The building blocks of proteins, containing an amine group, a carboxyl group, and a variable side chain (R group).