Chapter 1
What's the smallest unit of life?
Cell
What is the atomic number of an element?
The number of protons in the atomic nucleus
What divides organic molecules from inorganic molecules?
The presence of carbon and hydrogen atoms.
What are the main types of lipids and nucleic acids?
Lipids include fats, phospholipids, waxes, and steroids and are insoluble in water. The two main nucleic acids are DNA and RNA.
How are proteins made?
Proteins are made by joining amino acids together in specific sequences
What's homeostasis?
The process by which an organism keeps its internal conditions within tolerable ranges by sensing and responding to change
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What is a functional group?
An atom or small group attached to carbon that gives an organic compound a specific chemical property.
What are the two parts of a fatty acid, and how do they interact with water?
A fatty acid has a long hydrocarbon tail that is hydrophobic and a carboxyl group head that is hydrophilic.
What's the bond between amino acids called?
Peptide bond
What's taxonomy?
The science of naming and classifying species
What's the shell model?
To show how electrons are arranged around the nucleus
What are chemical reactions?
Processes where cells build polymers from monomers or break polymers down into monomers.
What are fats made of?
Fats consist of a glycerol molecule attached to one, two, or three fatty acid tails.
What is denaturation, and what can cause it?
Denaturation is when a protein unravels and loses its function. It can be caused by heat, salts, pH changes, or detergents.
What is the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning?
Inductive reasoning draws a general conclusion based on observations, while deductive reasoning uses a general idea to make a conclusion about a specific case.
What's a vacancy in the outermost shell?
What is the difference between condensation and hydrolysis?
Condensation builds larger molecules from smaller subunits, while hydrolysis uses water to break larger molecules into smaller subunits.
What is the main component of cell membranes?
Phospholipids, which have a hydrophilic phosphate head and two nonpolar fatty acid tails.
What are the four levels of protein structure?
Primary is the linear sequence of amino acids. Secondary forms twists and folds. Tertiary brings nonadjacent regions together into compact domains. Quaternary involves two or more polypeptide chains associated or covalently bonded together.
What are the steps of the scientific method?
What's a ion?
An atom that has an unequal number of protons and electrons
What are carbohydrates and what are the three main types?
Carbohydrates are organic compounds made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio. The three main types are monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides.
What are the two main nucleic acids and how do they differ?
RNA is a single-stranded chain of nucleotides important for protein synthesis, while DNA has two nucleotide chains twisted into a double helix and holds the information needed to build a new cell.
What does pH measure?
pH measures how acidic or basic a solution is.