Biomolecules

Question 1

What is Biochemistry?

Answer 1

The scientific discipline that seeks to explain life at the molecular level. A means for determining how organisms “work” using the tools and terminology of chemistry. A practical science with wide-ranging applications in a range of life science subjects, in treatment of diseases, and in industry

Question 2

What are the most common elements in Biochemistry

Answer 2

Hydrogen, Carbon, Nitrogen and Oxygen

Question 3

What are the essential ions in Biochemistry

Answer 3

Sodium, Magnesium, Chlorine, Potassium and Calcium

Question 4

What are The Major Classes of Biomolecules

Answer 4

1. Amino acids (amino and an acid)
2. Carbohydrates (carbon mixed with water usually)
3. Nucleotides (carbohydrate aspect, aromatic base aspect, and phosphates)
4. Lipids (hydrophobic, specialized structures, non-polar)

Question 5

What is the alcohol organic compound

Answer 5

Oxygen attached to hydrogen which is then attached to the rest of the organic compound. R-O-H

Question 6

What is the aldehyde organic compound

Answer 6

Carbon has a double bond with oxygen, the carbon also has a bond with hydrogen, this carbon is attached to the rest of the organic compound.
O=
R-C-H

Question 7

What is the ketone organic compound

Answer 7

Carbon has a double bond with oxygen, the carbon is attached to the rest of the organic compound on either side
O=
R-C-R

Question 8

What is the carboxylic acid organic compound

Answer 8

Carbon has a double bond with oxygen, this carbon also is attached to a hydroxyl functional group and finally attached to the rest of the organic compound
O=
R-C-OH

Question 9

What is the thiol (sulfhydryl) organic compound

Answer 9

Sulphur has a single bond with hydrogen and then attached to the rest of the organic compound
R-SH

Question 10

What is the hydroxyl functional group

Answer 10

It is a single bond between oxygen and hydrogen

-OH

Question 11

What is the carbonyl functional group

Answer 11

It is a double bond between carbon and oxygen.

C=O

Question 12

What is the carboxylate functional group

Answer 12

It is a double bond between carbon and oxygen and then a single bonded oxygen as well attached to the carbon
=O
C-O

Question 13

What is the sulfhydryl functional group

Answer 13

It is a single bond between sulphur and hydrogen

-SH

Question 14

What is the amino functional group

Answer 14

It is a bond between nitrogen and two hydrogens

-NH2

Question 15

What is the phosphate functional group

Answer 15

It is a phosphate that has single bonds with four oxygens
O-
O-P-O
-O

Question 16

What is the phosphoryl functional group

Answer 16

It is a phosphate that one double bond with oxygen and two single bonds with oxygen
=O
P-O
-O

Question 17

What is the ester linkage in biochemical compounds

Answer 17

It is oxygen that is single-bonded between two carbons, with one of the carbons have a double bond with an oxygen
=O
C-O-C

Question 18

What is the ether linkage in biochemical compounds

Answer 18

It is oxygen that is single-bonded between two carbons

C-O-C

Question 19

What is the amide linkage in biochemical compounds

Answer 19

It is nitrogen bonded to carbon which has a double bond with oxygen
=O
N-C

Question 20

What is the phosphate ester linkage in biochemical compounds

Answer 20

It is phosphate with three single bonds with oxygen, one double bond with oxygen, carbon is also attached to one of the oxygens
=O
C-O-P-O
-O

Question 21

What is the phosphoanhydride linkage in biochemical compounds

Answer 21

It is two phosphates, each phosphate has a double bond with oxygen, two oxygens in a single bond and one oxygen between the two of them
=O =O
C-O-P-O-P-O
-O -O

Question 22

What is “Directionality”?

Answer 22

All covalent bonds are in the same orientation

Question 23

What do a group of amino acids become

Answer 23

A protein

Question 24

How do amino acids form a protein

Answer 24

Peptide bonds (amide bonds: nitrogen attached to a carbonyl)

Question 25

What do a group of nucleotides become

Answer 25

Nucleic acids

Question 26

How do nucleotides become nucleic acids

Answer 26

Phosphodiester bond (carbon and phosphorous or a phosphate group)

Question 27

What is the shape that an H2O molecule takes

Answer 27

Tetrahedral

Question 28

What are donor atoms

Answer 28

Atoms that donate their electrons easier

Question 29

What are the accepter atoms

Answer 29

Atoms that are electronegative with a lone pair in a hybridized orbital

Question 30

What do the hydrogen bonds in ice look like

Answer 30

Regular lattice of hydrogen bonds

Question 31

What do the hydrogen bonds in water look like

Answer 31

Fluctuating hydrogen bond structure

Question 32

How do hydrogen bonds in water work

Answer 32

~3 hydrogen bonds per water molecule. Potential for 4 hydrogen bonds 2 hydrogen bonds works as an acceptor (the bonds from lone pairs of oxygen) 2 hydrogen bonds work as a donor (the hydrogens)

Question 33

What are the electrostatic forces

Answer 33

Ionic interactions, hydrogen bonds, Van de Waals and hydrophobic effects

Question 34

What is Van der Waals Interactions

Answer 34

Dipole-dipole interactions and London dispersion forces

Question 35

What are dipole-dipole interactions

Answer 35

Between polar non-charged groups. Weaker than Hydrogen bonds

Question 36

What are London dispersion forces

Answer 36

Between nonpolar molecules. Weaker than dipole-dipole interactions

Question 37

What is the bond strength in biological molecules in an aqueous environment from strongest to weakest

Answer 37

1. Covalent bond 2. Ionic interaction 3. Hydrogen bond 4. Van der Waals interaction

Question 38

Explain electronegativity in atoms

Answer 38

Different atoms have different electronegative affinities. Atoms bonded (covalently) with significantly different electronegativities create a permanent dipole

Question 39

What do amphiphilic/amphipathic molecules experience

Answer 39

Hydrophilic interactions and the hydrophobic effect

Question 40

What is the hydrophobic effect

Answer 40

Non-polar compounds tend to associate with each other in aqueous environments. This reduces the amount of surface area exposed to water, increasing the entropy of the water. Energy goes down as the molecules come together. The hydrophobic effect does not occur in a nonaqueous solution.

Question 41

What happens in a beaker that is less favourable and lower entropy

Answer 41

Each one of the molecules orders water molecules on its surface. This is more dispersed

Question 42

What happens in a beaker that is more favourable and higher entropy

Answer 42

It has order water molecules on exposed surface. It is more ordered.