Lectures 2-4 220 2025 (BtS)

Valency

The measure of an atom's ability to bond with other atoms, based on the number of electrons it needs to gain, lose, or share.

Electronegativity

The tendency of an atom to attract electrons towards itself in a chemical bond.

Carbon skeletons

The arrangement of carbon atoms in an organic molecule, which determines its structure and properties.

Isomers

Compounds that have the same molecular formula but different structures and properties.

Polymerization

The process in which monomers combine to form larger molecules known as polymers.

Monomers

Small, simple molecules that can join together to form polymers.

Polymers

Large, complex molecules composed of long chains of monomers.

Macromolecules

Large biological molecules, such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, that are crucial for life.

Carbohydrates

Organic compounds made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, serving as a primary energy source for living organisms.

Lipids

Hydrophobic organic molecules, including fats, oils, and steroids, that are important for energy storage and cell membrane structure.

Proteins

Biological macromolecules made up of amino acids, serving various functions such as enzymes, transport, and structure.

Nucleic Acids

Polymers made of nucleotide monomers, including DNA and RNA, that store and transmit genetic information.

Functional groups

Specific groups of atoms within molecules that determine the characteristics and chemical reactivity of those molecules.

Dehydration synthesis

A chemical reaction in which two molecules are bonded together with the removal of water.

Hydrolysis

A chemical process in which a molecule is broken down into smaller units by the addition of water.

Peptide bond

A covalent bond formed between two amino acids during protein synthesis.

Monosaccharides

The simplest form of carbohydrates, consisting of a single sugar unit.

Polysaccharides

Carbohydrates composed of long chains of monosaccharide units.

Glycosidic linkage

A type of covalent bond that links monosaccharides to form disaccharides and polysaccharides.

Saturated fats

Fats that have no double bonds between carbon atoms, resulting in a solid state at room temperature.

Unsaturated fats

Fats that contain one or more double bonds, typically liquid at room temperature.

Phospholipids

A type of lipid that is a major component of cell membranes, composed of fatty acids, glycerol, and phosphate.

Amino acids

Organic compounds that are the building blocks of proteins, containing both an amino group and a carboxyl group.

Primary structure of proteins

The sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain.

Secondary structure of proteins

Regions stabilized by hydrogen bonds between atoms in the polypeptide backbone, typically forming alpha-helices or beta-pleated sheets.

Tertiary structure of proteins

The overall three-dimensional shape of a polypeptide resulting from interactions among various side chains.

Quaternary structure of proteins

The structure formed when multiple polypeptide chains aggregate to form a functional protein.

Nucleotides

The monomers of nucleic acids, consisting of a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar, and a phosphate group.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid; a double-stranded molecule that encodes genetic information.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid; a single-stranded molecule involved in protein synthesis and gene regulation.

Hydrogen bonds

Weak attractions between a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to an electronegative atom and another electronegative atom.

Ionic bonds

A chemical bond formed through the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions.

Hydrophobic interactions

Interactions between nonpolar molecules that occur in aqueous environments.

Van der Waals forces

Weak attractions between molecules or parts of molecules that result from transient local partial charges.

Covalent bonds

Chemical bonds formed when two atoms share one or more pairs of electrons.

Hydrophilic molecules

Molecules that are attracted to water and can dissolve in it.

Hydrophobic molecules

Molecules that do not interact well with water and tend to avoid it.

Cells

The basic structural and functional units of all living organisms.

Cell membrane

A phospholipid bilayer that surrounds and protects the cell, controlling what enters and exits.

Enzymes

Proteins that act as catalysts to speed up chemical reactions.