Important Biological Molecules and Cellular Processes

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to biological molecules, cellular processes, and metabolic reactions.

Biological Molecules

Important macromolecules that make up biological entities.

Organic Compounds

Compounds that contain carbon, usually in combination with hydrogen and oxygen.

Covalent Bond

A chemical bond formed when two atoms share electrons.

pH

A measure of the acidity or basicity of a solution.

Acids

Substances that release protons (H⁺) in a solution.

Bases

Substances that accept protons (H⁺) in a solution.

Macromolecules

Large molecules, such as proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids.

Anabolic Reactions

Metabolic pathways that construct molecules from smaller units, usually requiring energy.

Catabolic Reactions

Metabolic pathways that break down molecules into smaller units, releasing energy.

Activation Energy

The minimum energy required to start a chemical reaction.

Enzyme-Substrate Complex

A temporary complex formed when an enzyme binds to its substrate.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

The primary energy carrier in cells.

Glycolysis

A metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, generating ATP.

Citric Acid Cycle

A series of chemical reactions used by all aerobic organisms to generate energy.

Activated Carrier Molecules

Molecules that temporarily store and transfer energy and chemical groups.

Polysaccharides

Carbohydrates that consist of long chains of sugar units.

Hydrolysis Reaction

A chemical process that splits a molecule by adding water.