Chemistry of Life
Why is carbon important to living things?
It is able to form up to 4 strong and stable bonds with other atoms.
List out the 5 properties of water
Water is polar
Solid water is less dense than liquid
Cohesion
Adhesion
High Specific Heat Capacity
What is the monomer and polymer of carbohydrates?
Monomer: Monosaccharides/simple sugars
Polymer: Polysaccharides/complex carbohydrates
What are the monomer and polymers of lipids?
Monomers: glycerol and fatty acids
Polymers: triglycerides, phospholipids, waxes, and steroids
What is the monomer and polymer of a protein?
monomer: amino acid
polymer: polypeptide
What are the 3 subatomic particles? What are their charges and where are they found on the atom?
Protons - positive; nucleus
Electrons - negative; circling the nucleus in electron shells
Neutrons - neutral; nucleus
hydrophobic: fear of water
hydrophilic: loves water
What are the elements for carbohydrates (include all information)?
Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio
What are the elements for lipids?
Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen
What are the elements for proteins?
Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur
To achieve stability by filling their outer most electron shell. This is called the octet rule.
1st shell: max 2 electrons
2nd shell: max 8 electrons
3rd shell: max 8 electrons
What property of water is responsible for surface tension?
Cohesion
What is the function of carbohydrates?
To get quick energy and sometimes structure and support
What are the functions of lipids?
Long term energy storage
Cell membranes
waterproof covering
insulation and organ protection
cholesterol and steroid hormones
What are 3 functions of proteins?
Hormones
structure/movement
cell transport
antibodies
cell membrane proteins
List and explain each type of bond (including sub categories).
Ionic Bonds - Electrons are transferred creating a positive ion (cation) and a negative ion (anion)
Polar Covalent Bond - Electrons are shared unevenly creating a positive and negative end of the molecule (between different elements)
Nonpolar Covalent Bond - Electrons are share evenly creating a neutral molecule (between the same element)
Bonus Points:
Hydrogen Bond - bond between the hydrogen and oxygen of 2 DIFFERENT water molecules
Explain capillary action using the properties of water.
Capillary action is the ability of water to move up narrow tubes or spaces against gravity, and it relies on water's unique properties. Cohesion allows the water molecules to stick to other water molecules to form a continuous column of water moving up. Adhesion allows the water molecules to stick to other molecules to stick to the walls of the item (plant, tube) to move the water up.
What is starch used by and for?
What is Cellulose used by and for?
What is Glycogen used by and for?
What is Chitin used by and for?
Starch is used by plants for energy storage
Cellulose is used by plants for structural support
Glycogen is used by animals for energy storage
Chitin is used by animals/fungi for structural support
Are lipids polar or nonpolar?
Nonpolar
What is denaturing and why is it important it doesn't happen to proteins?
denaturing is proteins straightening out and losing its shape. this is bad because the shape of proteins determines the function.
Bonus:
What are the steps of protein structure (list and explain).
What is the pH scale measuring? What range on the scale is acidic?What range on the scale is basic?
The amount of Hydrogen ions in a solution.
Acids: 1 - 6
Neutral: 7
Base: 8 - 14
Explain why the ocean in the arctic does not freeze over using the properties of water.
The Arctic Ocean doesn't freeze over completely, even in the extreme cold, largely due to the unique properties of water, including its density changes with temperature, and thermal insulation by ice allowing high specific heat capacity. As water freezes, it expands allowing it to become less dense making the ice float on the surface of the ocean. This allows the water under to remain liquid. The frozen layer also allows for the water under to remain warmer than on the top, and water takes a lot of heat energy to warm up or cool down, so it is able to keep a stable temperature under the ice.
How does the structure of carbohydrates support the function?
For simple sugars, the small structure allows for quick metabolized giving immediate energy. For complex carbohydrates, the chains allow for energy storage but allows rapid release by enzymes when needed.
How can you tell the difference between saturated and unsaturated fats?
Unsaturated fats have at least one carbon-carbon double bond causing a bend in the fatty acid tail
saturated fats have no carbon-carbon double bond keeping the fatty acid tails straight
Explain how an enzyme works and what it does.
Enzymes speed up chemical reactions. it works like a lock and key. the substrate(s) goes into the active site. the reaction happens and the enzyme releases the product(s). the enzyme goes and does the same process over again.