The Chemistry of Life Flashcards

1
Q

Organic Elements

A

Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen and Hydrogen

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2
Q

Carbon

A
  • has a high versatility (forms many different compounds)
  • part of carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and proteins
  • energy is released when the bonds are broken
  • can form rings or long chains
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3
Q

Carbohydrates

A
  • contain C, H, O
  • sugars and starches
  • join with glycosidic bond (condensation reaction, releases water, covalent)
  • breaking down is called hydolysis (requires water)
  • form long chains, the more the less sweet and less soluble
  • store of energy
  • C-2H-O
  • used in plants for structure
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4
Q

Sugars

A
  • Monosaccharides: Glucose, Fructose, Galactose

- Disaccharides: Maltose (glucose+glucose), Lactose (galactose+glucose), Sucrose (glucose+fructose)

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5
Q

Starches

A
Amylose:
- plant starch
- energy store
Cellulose:
- plant starch 
- structural
Glycogen: 
- animal starch 
- liver as energy store
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6
Q

Lipids

A
  • glycerol molecule and three fatty acid molecules
  • generally insoluble
  • fats, oils, waxes
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7
Q

Lipid Functions

A
  • waterproofing
  • energy store (37000 J per gram)
  • heat insulation
  • buoyancy
  • steroids
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8
Q

Fats

A
  • animals
  • solid at room temperature
  • saturated (no double bonds)
  • more energy
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9
Q

Oils

A
  • plants
  • liquid at room temperature
  • unsaturated (double bonds)
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10
Q

Nucleic Acids

A
  • made up of nucleotides (5-carbon sugar+phosphate group (PO4-)+nitrogenous base)
  • store and transmit hereditary information
  • Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)
  • Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)
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11
Q

Nitrogenous Base

A

Adenine
Guanine
Cytosine
Thymine

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12
Q

Adenine

A

Thymine

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13
Q

Guanine

A

Cytosine

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14
Q

Purines

A

Adenine and Guanine

Larger

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15
Q

Pyramidines

A

Thymine, Cytosine and Uracil

Smaller

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16
Q

Proteins

A
  • macromolecules
  • made of amino acids
  • most of the body is protein
17
Q

Amino Acids

A
  • made of Amino Group (NH2), Carboxyl Group (COOH) and C bonded with H and R Group
  • 20 different R Groups
  • bond with peptide bond (condensation reaction, covalent)
18
Q

Protein Functions

A
  • Catalysts (enzymes e.g. Amylase)
  • Storage (ovalbumen)
  • Transport (hemoglobin)
  • Communication (hormones)
  • Contractile (actin and myosin)
  • Protective (Immunoglobulin)
  • Toxins (snake venom)
  • Structural (cell membrane)
19
Q

Globular Proteins

A
  • large
  • transportable
  • soluble
  • proteins with binding sites
  • membrane receptor sites
20
Q

Fibrous Proteins

A
  • involved in structure (tendons and ligaments e.g. collagen and keratin)
  • contractile
21
Q

Less Common Elements

A
  • Sulfur
  • Calcium
  • Phosphorus
  • Iron
  • Sodium
22
Q

Sulfur Uses

A
  • needed for the synthesis of two amino acids (Cysteine and Metathione)
23
Q

Calcium Uses

A
  • used to strengthen bones and teeth
  • used for synaptic transmission of nerve impulses
  • used for muscle contraction
  • blood clotting
24
Q

Phosphorous Uses

A
  • part of DNA and ATP molecules

- works with calcium to maintain bones and teeth

25
Q

Iron Uses

A
  • part of the protein hemoglobin used to transport oxygen

- used as part of many enzymes

26
Q

Sodium Uses

A
  • helps to regulate osmosis in cells
27
Q

Thermal Properties of Water

A
  • water has a high specific heat capacity (4.2 Joules to raise one gram of water by one dress Celsius)
  • it is thermally stable
  • high heat of evaporation meaning that is can absorb a lot of heat without changing its temperature too much
  • doesn’t change its temperature like its environment
  • wide range between boiling and freezing points
28
Q

Cohesive Properties of Water

A
  • very cohesive
  • due to hydrogen bonding
  • the permanent positive charge es make water molecules slightly polar
  • this polarity causes the hydrogen atoms to bond with the oxygen
  • this is why water has a high specific heat capacity
  • surface tension
  • forms crystal when frozen, less dense
  • capillary action
29
Q

Cohesion

A

When molecules of the same type are attracted to each other

30
Q

Solvent Properties of Water

A
  • due to the polarity of water it can dissolve other polar molecules
  • like dissolves like
  • a lot of molecules found on the body are polar
  • water is abundant in the body to dissolve organic molecules (not fats)
31
Q

Adhesion

A

When molecules of different types are attracted to each other