Biomolecules and Chemical Reactions

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to biomolecules and associated chemical reactions.

Reactants

Substances that undergo chemical changes in a reaction.

Products

Substances formed as a result of a chemical reaction.

Synthesis Reaction

A type of reaction where two or more reactants combine to form a single product.

Decomposition Reaction

A reaction in which a single reactant breaks down into two or more products.

Reversible Reactions

Reactions where the products can convert back to reactants.

Non-reversible Reactions

Reactions that convert reactants to products without the ability to revert.

Macromolecules

Very large organic molecules with high molecular weights.

Polymers

Macromolecules made of repetitive series of identical or similar subunits (monomers).

Monomers

The individual subunits that make up polymers.

Dehydration Synthesis

The process of monomers covalently binding together to form a polymer while losing a water molecule.

Hydrolysis

The process of splitting a polymer by the addition of a water molecule.

Functional Groups

Groups of atoms that have characteristic properties and reactions in organic compounds.

Organic Chemistry

The study of compounds containing carbon.

Valence Electrons

Electrons in the outermost shell of an atom, critical for bonding.

Covalent Bonds

Chemical bonds formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms.