Biochemistry 1 Flashcards
(29 cards)
What is matter?
Everything around us that has mass and occupies space.
What is an element?
A substance that is made up of one type of atom so cannot be split into simpler substances
name the four organic molecules found in living organisms?
Carbohydrates, Lipids, nucleic acid, proteins
What is an isotope?
atoms of the same element with different number of neutrons
What atom has 1 proton and 1 electron?
Hydrogen.
What are free radicals?
Molecules or compounds with an unpaired electron. Steals electrons from molecules to stabilise - oxidation
What is a molecule and what is a compound?
Molecule: Group of atoms bonded together
Compound: substance containing two or more elements
What does the automic number at the top of an element correlate to? And what does the atomic mass at the bottom correlate to?
Number at the top is the number of protons (remember protons and electrons always the same)
Atomic Mass is the total number of protons and neutrons
How to work out neutrons in an element?
mass number - atomic number = neutrons
Energy stored in bonds between two different atoms is known as what sort of energy?
Covalent Bonds
What type of bond donates electrons to another?
Ionic Bonding
What is a free radical?
Molecule or compound with an unpaired electron. Steals electrons from molecules to stabolize.
What are anti-oxidants and how do anti-oxidants work?
They are a group of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and enzymes. They work by donating an electron to the free radical to convert them to harmless molecules
What are polar bonds?
elements with an uneven distribution of eletrons. eg alcohol
Why are electrolytes important for the body?
- conduct electricity essential for nerve and muscle function
- exert osmotic pressure important for water balance
- play a role in acid-base balance acting as buffers
How do buffers work?
They maintain the H+ concentration in the body within normal limits. Some buffers bind to H+ ions, others to OH- preventing damaging changes to PH
How does a catalyst work?
Speeds up reactions by lowering the activation energy required.
How do inhibitors such as statins work?
Stop catalysts from being effective by making activation energy higher. This slows reaction time down. Or higher temperature needed to make a reaction
Explain Le Chaterliers Principle
If products of reactions are used up the reaction will make more product to get back to equilibrium.
What is a functional group?
specific configuration of atoms that have properties of bonding and contribute to structure and function of molecule
which function group dissolves easily in water?
Hydroxyl Group
Which functional group is common in protein chains
Sulfhydryl
Which functional group is found in amino acids?
Carboxyl Group
Functional group in lipids and triglycerides
Esters
