Biochemistry Terms – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
Adhesion
answer
intermolecular attraction between unlike molecules
question
Carbohydrate
answer
A macromolecule that contains atoms of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in 1:2:1 ratio and serves as a major source of energy for living things
question
Catalyst
answer
A substance that enables a chemical reaction to proceed at a faster rate by lowering activation energy
question
Cohesion
answer
The intermolecular attraction between like molecules. Creates a surface tension of water.
question
Concentration
answer
The measure of the amount or proportion of a given substance when combined with another substance.
question
Enzyme
answer
A protein that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being changed by the reaction; organic catalyst
question
Freezing Point
answer
The temperature at which a liquid changes state to a solid; water 0C
question
Lipids
answer
A group of organic compounds made of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen; are insoluble in water; serve as a source of stored energy
question
Macromolecule
answer
A polymer with a high molecular mass; four groups within living things: carbohydrates, lipids, protein, nucleic acids
question
Monomer
answer
A molecule of any compound that can react with other molecules of the same or different compound to form a polymer
question
Nucleic Acids
answer
A biological macromolecule (DNA or RNA) composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorus that stores genetic information
question
Organic molecule
answer
A molecule containing carbon that is part of or produced by living systems
question
pH
answer
The measure of acidity or alkalinity (basicity) of an aqueous solution ranging from 1-14; measure of H+ ion
question
Protein
answer
A macromolecule that contains carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen; performs a variety of structural and regulatory functions for cells
question
Energy
answer
the ability to do work or cause change
question
Free energy
answer
energy that is available to do work
question
Activation energy
answer
the minimum amount of energy required to start a chemical reaction
question
Reactant
answer
element or compound that enters into a chemical reaction
question
Product
answer
a chemical substance formed as a result of a chemical reaction
question
Substrate
answer
reactant of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction
question
Chemical Reaction
answer
the process by which one or more substances change to produce one or more different substances
question
Aqueous Solution
answer
a solution in which water is the solvent
question
Polarity
answer
uneven distribution of charges across a molecule
question
Hydrogen bond
answer
Weak chemical bond formed by the attraction of positively charged hydrogen atoms to other negatively charged atoms
question
Acid
answer
compound that forms hydrogen ions (H+) in solution; falls below 7 on the pH scale
question
Base
answer
any compound that increases the number of hydroxide ions when dissolved in water; falls above 7 on the pH scale
question
Neutral
answer
a substance that has equal amounts of H+ and OH- ions in a solution; have a pH of 7
question
Buffer
answer
substance that maintains a fairly constant pH in a solution by accepting H+ ions when their levels rise and donating H+ ions when their levels fall
question
Condensation Reaction (dehydration synthesis)
answer
a chemical reaction in which two or more molecules combine to produce water or another simple molecule
question
Hydrolysis
answer
Breaking down complex molecules into monomers by the chemical addition of water.
question
Monosaccharide
answer
Monomer for carbohydrates
question
Fatty acid
answer
Most common type of lipid
question
Amino Acid
answer
Monomer for proteins
question
Nucleotide
answer
Monomer for nucleic acids
question
Phospholipid
answer
Type of lipid used to make cell membranes
question
Peptide Bond
answer
Type of bond connecting two amino acids to form a protein
question
Reduction-Oxidation Reaction
answer
a reaction that occurs when electrons are transferred from one reactant to another
question
Reduction
answer
Product that has gained electrons giving it a negative charge
question
Oxidation
answer
Product that has lost electrons giving it a positive charge
question
Endergonic Reaction
answer
Type of reaction that absorbs energy
question
Exergonic Reaction
answer
Type of chemical reaction that releases energy
question
Mixture
answer
a substance consisting of two or more substances mixed together (not in fixed proportions and not with chemical bonding)
question
Solution
answer
mixture of two or more substances in which the molecules of the substances are evenly distributed
question
Solute
answer
the substance that is dissolved
question
Solvent
answer
the substance in which the solute dissolves
