Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Biology
chapter 5
35
Science
Not Applicable
09/21/2005

Additional Science Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
metabolism
Definition
all chemical rxns taking place in an organism
Term
organic molecules
Definition
carbon-based molecules
Term
inorganic molecules
Definition
non-carbon-based molecules such as water, oxygen and ammonia
Term
hydrocarbons
Definition
organic molecules that are composed of only carbon and hydrogen
Term
functional group
Definition
a group of atoms within a molecule that interacts in predictable ways with other molecules
Term
hydrophilic
Definition
groups or molecules which attract water molecules
Term
catalyst
Definition
a substance that causes a reaction but it is not considered a reactant
Term
monomers
Definition
smaller molecular units which make up the chains of polymers
Term
polymers
Definition
long chains made up of monomers
Term
dehydration reaction
Definition
each time a monomer is added to a chain, a water molecule is released; it involves removing or releasing water
Term
hydrolysis reaction
Definition
happens when water is used to break down polymers
Term
carbohydrate
Definition
an organic compound made up of sugar molecules; contains the elements carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in the 1:2:1 ratio
Term
monosaccarides
Definition
simple sugars containing just one sugar unit (example Glucose, fructose, and galactose)
Term
disaccharide
Definition
using the dydration reaction, cells construct this "double sugar" from two monosaccharides
Term
polysaccharide
Definition
long polymer chains made up of simple sugar monomers; complex carbohydrates
Term
starch
Definition
a polysaccharide found in plant cells that consists entirely of glucose monomers
Term
glycogen
Definition
a chain of many glucose monomers
Term
cellulose
Definition
protects cells and stiffen the plant, preventing it from flopping over
Term
lipid
Definition
water avoiding compound which, as oil, is not able to mix with water
Term
hydrophobic
Definition
water-avoiding molecules; "water fearing"
Term
fat
Definition
consists of a three-carbon backbone called glycerol attached to three fatty acids, which contain long hydrocarbon chains
Term
saturated fat
Definition
a fat in which all three fatty acid cahins contain the maximun possible number of hydrogen atoms; solid at room temp.
Term
unsaturated fat
Definition
contains less than the maximum number of hydrogen atoms in one or more of its fatty acid chains because some of its carbon atoms are double-bonded to each other; liquid at room temp.
Term
steroid
Definition
a lipid molecule in which the carbon skelton forms four fused rings; hydrophobic
Term
cholesterol
Definition
a steroid taht is an essential molecule found in the membranes that surround your cells; starting point from which your body produces other steroids
Term
protein
Definition
a plymer constructed from a set of just 20 kinds of monomers called amino acids; responsible of day to day funtion in organisms
Term
amino acid
Definition
a monomer consisting of a central carbon atom bonded to four partners
Term
polypeptide
Definition
a chain which is created by proteins linking amino acids together; each link is created by dehydration reaction
Term
functional protein
Definition
consists of one or more polypeptides precisely twisted, folded, and coiled into a unique shape
Term
denaturation
Definition
the process which a protein unravels and loses its normal shape
Term
activation energy
Definition
"start up" energy; it activates the reactants and triggers a chemical reaction
Term
catalyst
Definition
compounds that speed up chemical reactions
Term
enzyme
Definition
specialized proteins which are considered the main catalysts of chemical reations (esp. in body)
Term
substrate
Definition
a specific reactant acted upon by an enzyme
Term
active site
Definition
the region of the enzyme which the substrate fits into
Supporting users have an ad free experience!