Biochemistry Flashcards

Ch. 2, 3, 4, 5

1
Q

What is electronegativity

A

The attraction of a particular atom for the electroms of a covalent bond

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2
Q

A nonpolar covalent bond is:

A

A covalent bond where the electrons are shared equally

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3
Q

A polar covalent bond is:

A

A covalent bond in which one atom is more electronegative than the other, resulting in an unequal distribution of electrons

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4
Q

Explain why H2O is considered to be polar even though it does not have a negative charge

A

Oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, meaning electrons are pulled toward oxygen. This creates partial negative charges at the oxygen end and 2 partial positive charges at each hydrogen end

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5
Q

What are hydrogen bonds

A

The partial positive charge in hydrogen resulting from polar covalent bonds allows the hydrogen to form bonds with other electronegative atoms

This accounts for water’s great suitibility for life

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6
Q

What are Van der Waal interactions

A

Electrons may accumulate in polar & nonpolar bonds by chance. This causes fluctuating positive and negative regions, allowing molecules to bind together

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7
Q

What are the 4 emergent properties of water

A
  1. Cohesive behavior
  2. Ability to moderate temperature
  3. Expansion upon freezing
  4. Versatility as a solvent
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8
Q

Cohesive behavior

What is cohesion in water

A

Water molecules will stay close together and bonded due to polar nature and hydrogen bonds

This accounts for structure seen in water vs other liquids

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9
Q

Cohesive behavior

What is adhesion in water

A

Hydrogen bonds in water help form bonds with other molecules

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10
Q

Cohesive behavior

What is surface tension in regards to water molecules and explain how it relates to cohesion

A

Surface tension in water is a measure of how difficult it is to stretch or break the surface
Water is not hydrogen-bonded to the air above but to itself. Water therefore does not want to ‘break’ until it is stretched past the point of no return

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11
Q

Moderation of temperature

How does water moderate air temperature

A

Water absorbs heat from air when warm and releases stored heat when cold

Water stores heat in H-bonds and C-bonds

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12
Q

Moderation of temperature

What is the difference between thermal energy and temperature

A

Thermal energy reflects the total kinetic energy of atoms in a body of matter and is therefore dependent on volume
Temperature is the average kinetic energy of a molecule in a body of matter, regardless of volume

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13
Q

Moderation of temperature

What is a specific heat capacity

A

The amount of heat that must be absorbed of lost for 1 gram of substance to change temperature by 1°C

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14
Q

Moderation of temperature

Define heat

A

Thermal energy in transfer from one body of matter to another

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15
Q

Moderation of temperature

What is heat of vaporization

A

Quantity of heat a liquid must absorb for 1 gram of substance to go from a liquid to a gas

H-bonds must break before molecule can go from liquid to gas

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16
Q

Moderation of temperature

What is evaporation cooling

A

As a liquid evaporaties, the surface of the remaining liquid begins to cool because the ‘hottest’ molecules have already left

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17
Q

Expansion upon freezing

Water ____ as it warms and ____ as it cools

A

expands, contracts

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18
Q

Expansion upon freezing

Between 0-4°C, water begins to freeze, breaking which type of bonds

A

Hydrogen bonds

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19
Q

Expansion upon freezing

True or False:
At 1°C, water locks into a crystaline lattice form

A

False
This happens at 0°C

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20
Q

Versatility as a solvent

Solutes placed in water dissociate as they are surrounded by:

A

Hydration shells

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21
Q

What is a buffer

A

A substance that minimizes changes in [OH-] and [H3O+] in a solution

Accepts H+ when in excess and donates H+ when depleted

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22
Q

What is an isomer

A

A variation in structure of an organic molecule

23
Q

What is a structural isomer

A

An isomer differing in covalent arrangements

Ex. 2, 2-dimethyl propane vs 2-methyl butane

24
Q

What is a cis-trans isomer

A

A double-bonded isomer with R groups on the same side or opposite side

*inflexible due to double bond

Ex. Cis-but-2-ene vs. Trans-but-2-ene

25
Q

What is an enantiomer

A

Isomers that are mirror images of each other

Ex. D-glucose vs. L-glucose

26
Q

What are steroids

A

Organic molecules with a common carbon skeleton of 4 fused rings, differing only in attached chemical groups

27
Q

What are functional groups
What are the 7 most important

A

Chemical groups directly involved in reactions
1. -OH (hydroxyl)
2. >C=O (carbonyl)
3. -COOH (carboxyl)
4. -NH2 (amino)
5. -SH (sulfhydryl)
6. -OPO3 2- (phosphate)
7. -CH3 (methyl)

28
Q

What is dyhydration synthesis

A

the joining of 2 monomers while removing an H2O molecule

29
Q

What is hydrolysis

A

Reaction that breaks apart polymers using H2O

30
Q

What are the 4 functions of carbs

A
  1. Short-term energy supply
  2. Energy storage as glycogen
  3. Cell-membrane markers
  4. Structural materials
31
Q

What kind of bond forms between saccharide molecules

A

Glycosidic links

32
Q

What is the difference between an aldose and a ketone

A

Aldose sugars have carbonyl groups found at the end of the molecule while ketones carbonyl groups are found in the middle of the molecule

33
Q

What are the 4 main carbohydrates seen in living systems

A
  1. Starch
  2. Glycogen
  3. Cellulose
  4. Chitin

Cellulose cannot be hydrolysed due to alternating glycosidic linkage

34
Q

Define glycosidic linkage

A

A covalent bond formed between two monosaccharides by a dyhydration reaction

34
Q

What are the 8 main functions of proteins

Remember with the acronym STREAMS C

A
  1. Structure - Ex. collagen
  2. Transport - Ex. Channels and Carriers
  3. Receptors - Ex. RTK
  4. Enzymes - Ex. Aminoacyl tRNA synthase
  5. Antibodies - Ex. Immune system proteins
  6. Messangers - Ex. Insulin
  7. Storage - Ex. Casein
  8. Contractiles - Ex. Cilia
35
Q

What is the primary structure of a protein

A

Original string of amino acids

36
Q

What is the secondary structure of a protein

A

Amino acids in specific sequence (eg. α-helix, ß-pleated sheet), bonded through peptide and hydrogen bonds

37
Q

What is the tertiary structure of a protein

A

3D protein structure through peptide, hydrogen, ionic, Van der Waal attractions

38
Q

What is a quaternary structure

A

Multiple polypeptide chains linked together

39
Q

What does it mean for a protein to be denatured

A

The shape of a protein has been altered (eg. due to temp, pH, heavy metals, etc) so the protein no longer functions

40
Q

What are the 5 main functions of lipids

Remember with the acronym LIPS C

A
  1. Long-term storage - Ex. Fat storage
  2. Insulation - Ex. Blubber
  3. Padding - Ex. Surround vital organs
  4. Structure - Ex. Phospholipids
  5. Chemical messangers - Ex. Hormones
41
Q

Which functional group do fatty acids end in

A

Carboxyl groups

42
Q

What is the difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids

A

Saturated
- no double bonds between carbons
- solid at room temperature
- these fats come from animals
Unsaturated
- 1+ double bond
- liquid at room temperature
- these fats come from plants

43
Q

What are neutral fats

A.k.a. triglycerides

A

Formed from dehydration synthesis between glycerol and at least 3 fatty acids (sat. or unsat.)

44
Q

What is a phospholipid

A

A neutral fat with 1 fatty acid replaced with a phosphate group

45
Q

What are the 2 main nucleic acids

A

DNA & RNA

46
Q

What are the DNA and RNA monomers

A

Nucleotides

47
Q

What are the parts of a nucleotide

A
  1. 5-carbon sugar
  2. Nitrogenous base
  3. Phosphate group
48
Q

Define cellulose

A

A polysaccharide of plant cell walls, consisting of glucose monomers joined by alternating glycosidic linkages

49
Q

Define chitin

And where is it found

A

A polysaccharide consisting of animo sugar monomers

Found in fungal cell walls / exoskeletons of arthropods

50
Q

What is a disulfide bridge

A

A strong covalent bond formed when the sulfur of one cysteine monomer bonds to the sulfur of another cysteine monomer

51
Q

What is cholesterol

A

A steroid that forms an essential component of animal cell membranes and act as a precursor molecule for the synthesis of other biological important steroids, such as many hormones

52
Q

What is a starch

A

A storage polysaccharide in plants consisting entirely of glucose monomers joined by glycosidic linkages