Weeks 1-4

Question 1

What is pKa value?

Answer 1

Used to determine the strength of acids. pKa = -log10Ka

Question 2

What is an acid?

Answer 2

Proton donor, must contain Hydrogen

Question 3

What is a base?

Answer 3

Proton acceptor, must contain a lone pair of electrons to bind the H+ ion.

Question 4

What determines if an acid OR base is strong or weak?

Answer 4

If it dissociates completely

Question 5

What is pKb value

Answer 5

Used to determine the strength of bases. pKb = -log10Kb

Question 6

What is a buffer

Answer 6

A solution/mixture of a weak acid and its conjugate base

Question 7

How do you calculate Ka

Answer 7

Ka= [H3O]+x[A-]/[HA]

Question 8

What differentiates a Alpha 1-4 link and a Beta 1-4 link?

Answer 8

In alpha 1-4 links the OH hydroxyl group on C1 is below the ring plane whereas is beta 1-4 links it is above the ring plane (beta = up, alpha= down as monosachrides)

Question 9

What is a D configuration monosaccharide?

Answer 9

A monosaccharide with the hydroxyl -OH group on the penultimate carbon facing the right in the fischer projection

Question 10

What is an L configuration monosaccharide?

Answer 10

A monosaccharide with the hydroxyl -OH group on the penultimate carbon facing the left in the fischer projection

Question 11

What is the penultimate carbon

Answer 11

The penultimate carbon is the chiral carbon atom farthest from the carbonyl group (aldehyde or ketone) that determines whether a sugar is designated as D or L

Question 12

What is an anomeric carbon

Answer 12

The new sterocentre resulting from cyclic hemiacetal formation

Question 13

What is an anomer

Answer 13

Carbohydrates that differ in configuration at their anomeric centers

Question 14

What are the diverse roles of proteins?

Answer 14

Structure of cells
Replication of cells
Transportation
Catalysis of reactions
Signalling of messages
combating infection

Question 15

Describe the Primary structure of a protein

Answer 15

A sequence of amino acids

Question 16

Describe the secondary structure of a protein

Answer 16

a sequence of amino acids folded in on itself

Question 17

Describe the tertiary structure of a protein

Answer 17

Secondary structure folded in on itself

Question 18

Describe the Quaternary structure of a protein

Answer 18

2 or more tertiary structures joined together.

Question 19

Amino acid properties

Answer 19

Capacity to polymerize
useful acid-base properties
Varied physical properties
Varied chemical functions