Module 2: Essential Biology Chapters 2 & 3
Q: What is an element?
A: A substance that cannot be broken down by ordinary chemical means
Q: What are the three atomic components?
A: Protons (positive), neutrons (neutral), electrons (negative)
Q: What is the atomic number and atomic mass?
A: Atomic number = # of protons or electrons; Atomic mass = protons + neutrons
Q: What is an ionic bond?
A: Bond formed when atoms transfer electrons and become charged ions
Q: What is a covalent bond?
A: Bond formed when atoms share electrons
Q: What is a polar molecule?
A: Molecule with unequal electron sharing causing partial charges
Q: What are hydrogen bonds?
A: Weak bonds between polar molecules like water
Q: What makes a molecule hydrophilic vs hydrophobic?
A: Hydrophilic = attracted to water; Hydrophobic = repelled by water
Q: What are the four major classes of large biological molecules?
A: Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids
Q: What is dehydration synthesis?
A: Joining of monomers by removing water
Q: What is hydrolysis?
A: Breaking polymers into monomers by adding water
Q: What is the function of disaccharides?
A: Energy storage
Q: What are polysaccharides?
A: Long chains of sugar units (storage: starch/glycogen, structural: cellulose)
Q: What are the main types of lipids?
A: Fats, phospholipids, steroids
Q: What are proteins made of?
A: Chains of amino acids
Q: What determines a protein’s function?
A: Its three-dimensional shape (conformation)
Q: What are the nucleic acids and their functions?
A: DNA & RNA; store and transmit hereditary info
Q: What are nucleotides made of?
A: Sugar, phosphate group, nitrogenous base