Biology flash cards

Molecule Structure and Bonds

• Monomers: Basic building blocks of larger molecules.

  • Example: Carbon and oxygen can form double bonds when combined.

• Bond Types:

  • Single Bond: A bond where one pair of electrons is shared (e.g., carbon-hydrogen).

  • Double Bond: Involves two pairs of electrons between atoms, such as carbon and oxygen.

  • Hydroxyl Group (-OH): Contains oxygen bonded to hydrogen, is essential in organic compounds.

    • Structure: Carbon is bonded to an oxygen atom, which is bonded to a hydrogen atom.

    • Misconception: It is incorrect to directly bond an OH group with a carbon and hydrogen without proper structure.

Subatomic Particles

• Chemical Bonds: Atoms bond to fulfill their octet.

  • Carbon: Can form four bonds.

  • Oxygen: Can form two bonds.

• Hydrogen: Can only make one bond; cannot form multiple bonds without other atoms being involved.

Dilution and Concentration

• Dilution Factor: Important when calculating the concentration of solutions.

  • Example: If diluting a solution, if 1 ml is taken out and mixed with 9 ml, the dilution factor is 1/10.

• Total Dilution Factor: Remains the same; cannot double account for dilution.

  • Concentration in the second tube is calculated based on the first tube’s concentration and the dilution factor.

Chemical Classification

• Functional Groups: Specific groups of atoms that determine the characteristic chemical reactions of a compound.

  • Common groups include amino groups, hydroxyl groups, and carboxyl groups.

• Amino Acids: Always structured with an amino group and a carboxyl group.

  • Identified by their R group (variable side chain).

• Monosaccharides: Simple carbohydrates composed solely of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

  • Must not contain additional elements.

Understanding Carbohydrates and Other Molecules

• Carbohydrates: Defined as carbon compounds that are hydrated with hydroxyl groups.

  • The basic structure consists of carbon chains or rings with associated hydroxyl groups.

• Other Biological Molecules:

  • Lipids: Long carbon chains, diverse structures with no consistent markers.

  • Nucleotides: Include nitrogen and phosphorus; essential for nucleic acid structure.

Environmental Interactions and Cell Dynamics

• Hypotonic vs. Hypertonic: Understanding concentration relative to cell environments.

  • Hypotonic: Environment has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the cell.

  • Hypertonic: Environment has a higher concentration of solutes compared to the cell.

• Osmosis: Moves water in relation to solute concentrations.

  • Cells aim to maintain balance to ensure survival and proper function.

Teaching Strategy and Student Support

• Engagement: Encourage students to ask questions and provide feedback on learning methods.

• Exit Tickets: Utilize to gauge understanding and gather suggestions for improving teaching methods.

• Support Resources: Availability of study cheat sheets and comments from instructors to aid exam preparation.