Chemistry of Life
What type of bond forms between water molecules?
Which functional group is found in all amino acids?
Amino –NH₂ and Carboxyl –COOH.
What are the monomers of proteins?
Amino acids
What organelle is the site of cellular respiration?
Mitochondrion
How does the polarity of water molecules contribute to its solvent properties?
Water’s polarity allows it to dissolve ionic compounds and other polar molecules by forming hydrogen bonds.
Which property of water allows insects to walk on its surface?
Cohesion/Surface Tension
What is the function of the hydroxyl (-OH) group in macromolecules?
Increases solubility in water.
What type of reaction forms polymers from monomers?
Dehydration synthesis
Which organelle is responsible for modifying, sorting, and packaging proteins?
Golgi apparatus
What type of bond connects the monomers of proteins, and what are the components of this bond?
Peptide bonds; formed between the amino group of one amino acid and the carboxyl group of another.
What is the difference between polar and nonpolar covalent bonds?
Polar covalent bonds involve an unequal sharing of electrons due to differences in electronegativity, while nonpolar covalent bonds involve an equal sharing of electrons.
The presence of which functional group makes a molecule acidic?
Carboxyl –COOH
What type of bond links monosaccharides together in a polysaccharide, and how is it formed?
Glycosidic bond formed by a dehydration reaction where a hydroxyl group from one monosaccharide reacts with a hydrogen atom from another.
What is the function of the smooth ER?
Lipid synthesis and detoxification
How does carbon’s ability to form four covalent bonds make it the backbone of organic molecules?
It allows carbon to form a wide variety of complex molecules, including chains, rings, and branches.
How does water’s high specific heat benefit living organisms?
It helps with temperature regulation.
What functional group stabilizes protein structure through covalent cross-links?
Sulfhydryl –SH, forming disulfide bridges
What is the main structural polysaccharide in plants?
Cellulose
How do lysosomes help maintain cellular health?
They contain enzymes that break down waste and cellular debris.
What is the function of the rough endoplasmic reticulum in a cell?
It synthesizes and modifies proteins, which are then packaged and transported to the Golgi apparatus or cell membrane.
Explain why ice floats on water in terms of molecular structure.
Hydrogen bonds form a lattice that is less dense than liquid water.
Compare and contrast the phosphate and methyl groups in terms of polarity and biological function.
Phosphate: highly polar, used in ATP & DNA; Methyl: nonpolar, affects gene expression.
Compare the structure and function of starch and glycogen.
Both store energy; starch is linear & found in plants, glycogen is branched & found in animals.
What is the function of the nucleolus, and where is it located?
The nucleolus is responsible for ribosomal RNA synthesis and ribosome subunit assembly, and it is located within the nucleus.
How does the structure of a phospholipid contribute to the formation of cell membranes?
Phospholipids have hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails, forming a bilayer that acts as a selective barrier in cell membranes.