Chapter 1.1-1.2 - Chemical Basis of Life

Question 1

What is Biochemistry?

Answer 1

▪ Bio + chemistry → the chemistry of biology
▪ The study of molecules and chemical
reactions in living things

Question 2

Understanding a molecule’s physical
structure and chemical reactivity helps to _____________.

Answer 2

understand how molecules cooperate and combine

Question 3

Biochemistry focuses on __________

Answer 3

the structures and functions of molecules

Question 4

Major themes of the semester:

Answer 4

1. Living organisms are made of macromolecules
2. Organisms acquire, transform, store, and use energy
3. Biological information must be transmitted from one generation to the next

Question 5

List the elements found in biological molecules

Answer 5

C, N, O, H - Most abundant
Na, Mg, K, Ca, P, S, Cl - Second most abundant

Question 6

Virtually All Molecules in Living Organisms Contain ________.

Answer 6

Carbon

Question 7

Why carbon?

Answer 7

▪ Common
▪ 4 valence electrons
▪ Binds to other atoms and can form complex backbones
▪ Forms covalent bonds

Question 8

Functional group

Answer 8

small group of atoms that determines
properties of organic/carbon-based compounds

Question 9

Examples of Functional groups

Answer 9

Examples:
▪ Hydroxyl - makes more water soluble
▪ Methyl - very stable
▪ Carboxyl - weak acid
▪ Amino - weak base
▪ Phosphate - high energy

Question 10

Cells Contain Four Major Types of
Biomolecules

Answer 10

1. Amino acids
2. Carbohydrates
3. Nucleotides
4. Lipids

Question 11

Amino acids contain

Answer 11

▪ A central carbon (⍺ Carbon)
▪ An amino group
▪ A carboxylic acid group
▪ A side chain (R group)
▪ A hydrogen

Question 12

Carbohydrates

Answer 12

▪Carbohydrates = monosaccharides or sugars
▪ Contain multiple –OH groups
▪General chemical formula: (CH2O)n
, where n ≥ 3

Question 13

Nucleotides

Answer 13

Five carbon sugar (Ribose, Deoxyribose), Nitrogenous base (A,G,C,T,U), Phosphate group

Question 14

More Phosphates =

Answer 14

More energy

Question 15

Nitrogenous base determines

Answer 15

Name of nucleotide

Question 16

Lipids

Answer 16

▪Lipids (fats) have a variety of structures, but most are nonpolar molecules with
hydrocarbon skeletons
▪One of the most important lipids in human health is cholesterol

Question 17

Monomers link sequentially to form

Answer 17

Polymers

Question 18

Monomer

Answer 18

single biomolecule building block and can exist independently

Question 19

Polymer

Answer 19

long chain of monomer

Question 20

Dehydration Synthesis Reactions _____ Link Monomers Together

Answer 20

Covalently

Question 21

Dehydration synthesis what reacts and what is released

Answer 21

Two OH groups react and water released

Question 22

Hydrolysis Reactions ____ Covalent Bonds Between Monomers

Answer 22

break

Question 23

Hydrolysis

Answer 23

a large reactant is broken down to form smaller products through
addition of water

Question 24

Dehydration synthesis (condensation)

Answer 24

reaction that forms polymers by
chemically combining monomer units in a head-to-tail fashion