A3P Lecture Notes Review

Flashcards covering key vocabulary from lectures on organic and inorganic molecules, carbohydrates, and lipids, including their classifications and functions.

Organic Molecules

Molecules that contain one or more carbon atoms covalently bound to hydrogen atoms, forming chain-like or ring-like structures, often including oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur.

Inorganic Molecules

Molecules without carbon atoms covalently bonded to hydrogen atoms.

Biochemistry

The study of organic molecules in living things.

Carbohydrates

Also known as 'carbs,' molecules made up of carbons covalently bound, functioning as fuel molecules and structural materials; include sugars, starches, and fibers.

Monosaccharides

Simple sugars made up of a single ring of carbons, such as glucose, fructose, and galactose.

Glucose

A monosaccharide commonly known as 'blood sugar'.

Fructose

A monosaccharide commonly known as 'fruit sugar'.

Galactose

A monosaccharide found in milk.

Disaccharides

Simple sugars made up of two carbon rings bound together (two monosaccharides covalently bound), such as sucrose, lactose, and maltose.

Sucrose

A disaccharide known as 'table sugar' or 'cane sugar,' composed of glucose and fructose.

Lactose

A disaccharide known as 'milk sugar,' composed of glucose and galactose.

Maltose

A disaccharide known as 'malt sugar,' composed of two glucose molecules.

Polysaccharides

Complex carbohydrates, including starches and fibers, made up of three or more (typically hundreds) of monosaccharides bound together, such as glycogen, amylose, and cellulose.

Glycogen

A polysaccharide known as 'animal starch,' serving as a storage form of glucose in animals.

Amylose

A polysaccharide known as 'plant starch' or 'corn starch,' a primary storage carbohydrate in plants.

Cellulose

A polysaccharide known as 'plant fiber,' a structural molecule found in cotton, plant stems, and seeds.

Lipids

Organic molecules that function as fuel molecules, structural molecules, and hormones; includes triglycerides, phospholipids, and steroids.

Triglycerides

Known as 'fat' molecules, they are hydrophobic fuel molecules made up of a glycerol molecule linked to three fatty acid chains.

Glycerol

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

Fatty Acids

Chains of carbons that are linked to glycerol in triglycerides; classified as saturated, unsaturated, or trans.

Saturated Fatty Acids

Fatty acids characterized by a straight carbon chain.

Unsaturated Fatty Acids

Fatty acids characterized by a carbon chain with a kink or bend.

Trans Fatty Acids

Fatty acids characterized by an abnormal or unnatural kink/bend in their carbon chain.

Saturated Fats

Triglycerides with three saturated fatty acids, typically solid at room temperature, found in meat, coconut oil, and butter, and linked to health issues like heart disease.

Unsaturated Fats

Triglycerides with at least one unsaturated fatty acid, typically liquid at room temperature ('oils'), such as vegetable, olive, and canola oils, considered a healthier type of fat.

Trans Fats

Triglycerides with at least one trans fatty acid, typically liquid at room temperature, formed when fat is heated at high temperatures or as an unwanted byproduct in food processing (e.g., margarine), considered the unhealthiest type of fat.

Phospholipids

Structural molecules that form cell membranes, made up of a glycerol molecule linked to two fatty acids and a phosphate molecule; they are amphiphillic/amphiphatic.

Amphiphillic/Amphiphatic Molecules

Molecules that have both a hydrophilic (water-attracting) part and a hydrophobic (water-repelling) part, like phospholipids with their phosphate head and fatty acid tails.

Phospholipid Bilayer (Lipid Bilayer)

A structure formed by two layers of phospholipids in water, where the hydrophilic heads face outward towards the water and the hydrophobic tails face inward, forming the main component of cell membranes.

Hydrophilic

Refers to a part of a molecule that is attracted to water.

Hydrophobic

Refers to a part of a molecule that repels water.