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Spring 2013 / Biochemistry > Week 2 > Flashcards

Week 2 Flashcards

1
Q

biological molecules are almost always found operating in liquid environment of water, why?

A

bc it is dynamic, being polar, and bc it SOLUBILIZES so many substances

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2
Q

in liquid and gaseous environments, where molecules can circulate easily amongst themselves, what dominates all motion?

A

random motion of atoms and molecules

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3
Q

2nd law of thermodynamics explains…? which means…?

A

ENTROPY

the desire of matter and energy to EQUILIBERATE if not constrained

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4
Q

when can you see entropy?

A

in diffusion of heat from a hotter area to colder area

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5
Q

what type of process is diffusion?

A

a spontaneous and irreversible process

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6
Q

can particles that have been spread out by diffusion spontaneously re-order themselves?

A

NO

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7
Q

what is Brownian Motion?

A

random motion

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8
Q

what is concentration gradient?

A

tendency of substance x to diffuse toward area of cell where it is less concentrated (2nd law of thermodynamics)

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9
Q

the surface area of red blood cells are large or small? why?

A

small, compact, smooth, to not expose itself to environment as easily

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10
Q

the surface area of neuron is large or small? why?

A

has numerous extensions increasing surface areas for maximum exposure to environment

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11
Q

what is hydraulics?

A

study & application of using pressures of liquids to do work

liquids & solids do not compress, so it creates hydraulic pressure

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12
Q

gases create a pressure in direct ratio to…

A

tje amount of pressure they are exerting, or being exerted upon

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13
Q

what is partial pressure?

A

when gases dissolve in liquids, such as oxygen or carbon dioxide does in blood

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14
Q

when does a chemical reaction takes place?

A

when molecules and/or atoms interact and a CHANGE (delta) in one or more molecules or atoms occurs

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15
Q

what is a catalyst?

A

(without the use of energy) causes a reaction to occur almost spontaneously

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16
Q

the amount of energy needed to start a reaction is called?

A

activation energy

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17
Q

what is the rate of reaction?

A

the speed of a reaction to completion (catalysts usually speed up the reaction rate)

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18
Q

the sign “+” is…

A

where the activation energy and catalysts act to create an interaction bt 2 atoms or molecules

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19
Q

what is redox reactions?

A

red-uction and ox-idation

1 molecule will oxidize, the other will be reduced, thus maintaing balance

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20
Q

when does oxidation occur?

A

when a molecule LOSES electrons or ACCEPTS oxygen

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21
Q

when does reduction occur?

A

when molecule ACCEPTS electrons or hydrogen ions and LOSES oxygen

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22
Q

when does oxidative stress occur?

A

when there is an abundance of oxidized molecules or atoms in the tissue

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23
Q

what does antioxidants do?

A

“mop up” oxidative stress, which damages tissues by restoring electrons to an environment.
they are inherently recycled so they can re-donate electrons again and again

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24
Q

why are oxidants damaging to tissues?

A

bc they react with atoms or molecules and change the molecules, which changes the CONFORMATIONAL STRUCTURE and/or the electrochemistry of molecule

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25
what is a toxin?
- a molecules that strips electrons from biological molecules - toxins keep their electrons, leaving molecules in oxidized state
26
what is chronic inflammation?
an oxidative cellular and tissue state
27
what is nuclear chemistry
chemistry of atom's nucleus
28
what is radioactivity?
result of decay of that nucleus
29
does radioactivity affect electrons?
NO
30
what results in nuclear radiation?
from unstable atomic nuclei releasing particles from unstable nucleus leading to nucleus decay
31
what is an isotope?
different numbers of NEUTRONS in nucleus
32
what happens in an unstable isotope
the nucleus decays by losing both protons and neutrons, spewing radioactive particles into the environment
33
how are the unstable isotopes of cesium and strontium created?
by disintegration of uranium from fission
34
how do cesium and strontium (metals, relatives of sodium and potassium) damage biological systems by their radiation?
they will substitute for sodium and potassium in biological systems, and release their radiation directly into the organism they have been incorporated
35
What are the 4 major types of decay particles from atomic disintegration? What are they called?
beta particles positron emission gamma rays alpha particles ionizing radiation
36
how do radiation damage atoms and molecules (2 ways)?
1. disrupting their electron clouds and bonds to other atoms, causing oxidative stress 2. damage an atomic nucleus by absorption of a neutron in a stable isotope (which emits more radiation)
37
molecules damaged by radiation can be progenitors of...?
cancerous growth bc beyond cell's capacity to repair the DNA
38
what are beta particles?
high energy electrons with NEG charge
39
why do beta particles not act like normal electrons?
bc they are ejected from decaying nucleus of a radioactive atom at high speed
40
what are alpha particles?
- a helium nucleus that has no electrons | - weak radiation, disperse quickly
41
what are positrons emissions?
- decay product of a proton with POS charge | - high energy particle
42
why is positron emission called B+?
bc it is the antimatter particle to an electron
43
what is gamma rays?
high energy and dangerously destructive particle emission (form of light energy)
44
what is organic chemistry
chemistry of carbon
45
1. are all carbon-containg molecules "organic"? | what are examples of organic molecules and why are they considered organic?
NO coal or oil, bc they are created by plants, a result of production in biological system
46
what are examples of inorganic molecules and why?
cell salts or oxygen, bc they don't contain carbon in their structure
47
what are the most common elements in organic compounds?
hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen
48
what elements (2) will [primarily] bond to the 4 basic compounds of carbon?
sulfure | phosphorus
49
carbon compounds are exclusively bonded with what type of bond? what other bond is common?
- covalent bond | - hydrogen weak bond
50
soap is an example of what type of infrequent bond of carbon compound?
ionic bond
51
which metal ions (7) will be CHELATED into biological molecules?
iron, magnesium, copper, potassium, sodium, calcium, manganese, etc.
52
what is CHELATED?
not technically bonded, but held in place within an enzyme or PORPHYRIN structure
53
``` CARBON # of bonds charge ```
- 4 bonds | - NEUTRAL charge
54
``` OXYGEN # of bonds charge ```
- 2 bonds | - NEG charge
55
``` NITROGEN # of bonds charge ```
3 bonds | NEG charge
56
``` HYDROGEN # of bonds charge ```
1 bond | POS charge
57
"meth-"
1
58
"eth-"
2
59
"prop-"
3
60
"but-"
4
61
"pent-"
5
62
"hex-"
6
63
"hept-"
7
64
"oct-"
8
65
"acet-"
2-carbon chain
66
-ol
alcohol
67
-ase
enzyme
68
-ose
sugar
69
-amine
amino acid
70
Carbon is element #? valence? name 2 other characteristics that it is ALWAYS in
element #6 valence -4 always has its 4 bonds filled always covalently bonded
71
what shape does Carbon's bond have?
tetrahedral distribution around the nucleus
72
is carbon polarized? why?
NO, bc both POS and NEG atoms bond to it, maintaining 109 degrees
73
organic molecules can dissolve in water or not, the degree of dissolution in water or solubility are defined as...?
hydrophobicity | hydrophilicity
74
which large biological molecules create more solubility and why?
OH-, H+, or O- are exposed and more apt to mix with water, creating more solubility
75
which group on a molecule is hydrophobic in nature (name 2)?
methyl group (-CH) and benzene ring, they will reject interaction with water
76
what are saturated molecules?
more solid and dense bc they have MORE HYDROGEN atoms bonded to the molecule per carbon ex. coconut oil (solid at a little below room temp)
77
what are unsaturated molecules?
more liquid and light bc they have LESS HYDROGEN per carbon | ex. olive oil
78
what are ENANTIOMERS?
organic molecules that have mirror image constructions (both right- and left-handed mirror)
79
the right configuration of ENANTIOMERS are signified as? the left?
RT: "D-form" (dextrorotatory) LEFT: "L-form" (levorotatory)
80
most amino acids (building block of protein) in biological systems are which form?
L- form
81
sugar molecules that are of use in biological systems are which form?
D- form
82
How can enantiomer become useable as fuel or building block for macromolecules when they often taste and smell different, and have different effects due to their different conformational structures?
many enzymes exist to "flip" an enantiomer from one form to the other
83
what are aliphatic molecules?
based on c-c-c linear backbone
84
what are the subdivisions of aliphatic molecules (3)?
1. alkAne (single-bond) 2. alkEne (double-bond) 3. alkYne (triple-bond)
85
what are some examples of aliphatic compounds?
fats, sterols, waxes, fules like gasoline or butane
86
what are aromatic compounds?
based on benzene ring structure and are known for their ability to create aromas
87
what is benzene's formula, and what is its special quality?
C6H6 | has 3 bonds that move around at the next moment (not static)
88
alkAnes are...
saturated
89
alkEnes and alkYnes
unsaturated or polyunsaturated
90
what is an alkyle group?
alkAne or alkEne attached to a primary molecular structure

Spring 2013 / Biochemistry (13 decks)

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