biological molecules Flashcards
(204 cards)
why is water important?
- water serves as the universal solvent in biological systems
- water makes up 70% or more of the weight of most cells
- many organisms and cells depend on an aqueous extracellular environment for survival
- water has a remarkable capacity to dissolve a great variety of solutes due to its polar nature
what is the bonding of water?
two hydrogen atoms are covalently bonded to one oxygen atom at an angle of 104.5 degrees
why is water a polar molecule?
the oxygen atom is strongly electronegative, while the hydrogen atom is electropositive. there is an unequal distribution of electrons in a water molecule, with a partial negative charge on the oxygen atom, and a partial positive charge on the hydrogen atoms. the water molecule as a whole is uncharged, but the two ends of the molecule have opposite charges
explain the formation of a hydrogen bond
when the electropositive region of the water molecule comes close to an electronegative region of the water molecule, the electrical attraction between them can result in a weak bond called a hydrogen bond
how do oxygen atoms form hydrogen bonds with hydrogen atoms?
each oxygen atom can form hydrogen bonds with two hydrogen atoms,
what is the function of a hydrogen bond?
a hydrogen bond is crucial in maintaining the structure and function of biological molecules, including carbohydrates, proteins and nucleic acids
how do ionic solute compounds dissolve in a liquid?
solvent molecules must overcome the attraction of the positively charged and negative charged ions. as such, the oppositely charged ions become involved in electrostatic interactions with the water molecules, forming hydration spheres where the attraction is neutralised.
definition of hydrophilic?
hydrophilic solutes have an affinity for water and therefore dissolve readily in it. polar molecules and ions/charged molecules are hydrophillic
definition of hydrophobic?
hydrophobic molecules are not very soluble in water, and are non-polar and cannot form hydrogen bonds with water. lipids and some proteins are hydrophobic
definition of amphipathic?
amphipathic molecules have some hydrophobic and hydrophili regions on the same molecule, so some parts of the molecule have an affinity for water while other parts of the molecule do not
how are atoms arranged within a methane molecule?
in the methane molecule, the four bonds are arranged symmetrically as if within a tetrahedron, with the angle between two hydrogen atoms being 109.5 degrees.
what is the function of functional groups?
function groups determine the characteristics and chemical reactivity of the molecules and may take part in the chemical reactions
definition of a macromolecule?
a macromolecule is a giant molecule of high molecular weight, often made of many repeating units, in such a case is therefore a polymer. the repeating units that serve as building blocks of a polymer are called monomers
how are polymers synthesised?
monomers are connected by a condensation reaction in which the two molecules are covalently bonded to each other through loss of a water molecule, also known as a dehydration reaction. this process occurs with the help of enzymes
how are polymers broken down?
polymers are dissembled back into monomers by hydrolysis, where a bond formed between two monomers is broken by the addition of a water molecule
why are lipids not true polymers?
individual lipids are unable to form covalent bonds with one another to form larger molecules, and they are generally not big enough to be considered macromolecules
definition of simple lipids?
simple lipids consist of an alcohol (usually glycerol) linked to one or more fatty acids via an ester linkage (eg. triglyceride)
definition of compounds lipids?
compound lipids are esters of fatty acids, an alcohol and other groups (eg. phospholipids, glycolipids)
definition of derived lipids?
derived lipids are chemically originated components present in the body of plants and animals, and are utilised in other biochemical reactions to produce other essential substances (eg. bile juices, sterols, cholesterol)
what is the molecular formula of glycerol?
C3H8O3, with each carbon bearing a hydroxyl group
what is the chemical composition of fatty acids?
fatty acids are carboxylic acids composed of an acidic carboxyl (COOH) functional group at one end and an attached hydrocarbon chain. the abundance of the non-polar C-H bonds is the reason why fats are hydrophobic
what are the two factors that determine the structure and function of a fatty acid?
- length of hydrocarbon chain
- number and location of double bonds along their carbon skeleton
definition of a saturated fatty acid?
a saturated fatty acid has no double bonds between the carbon atoms (eg. butter is made from saturated fats)
definition of an unsaturated fatty acid?
an unsaturated fatty acid has one or more double bonds, and will have a kink in its tail whenever a double bond occurs, as double bonds are more rigid and form a kink (eg. cooking oil and fish liver oil are generally unsaturated fats)