Biochemistry Vocabulary

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Biochemistry Vocabulary
Define
Biomolecule Carbohydrate Lipid Protein Polyme
r Organic Inorganic Monomer Nucleic Acid
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The Chemistry of Life!!!
What are you made of?
Atom
- smallest unit of matter unable to be cut into
smaller units and still remain the same.
But what do you get when you cut an atom in half?
Proton
-positively charged

Neutron
-neutral charge (no charge)
Electron
- negative charge
-
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What is an element?
No, Not this
Element
- a group of atoms with the same structure and
properties.
What happens when an atom has more neutrons than
it is supposed to?
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Isotopes Happen!
Isotopes
- an isotope is an atom with more, or less
neutrons than other atoms of its element.
Normal Carbon 12
Radioactive Carbon 14
6 Protons
6 Protons
6 Neutrons
8 Neutrons
6 Electrons
6 Electrons
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What happens when you put two elements together?
Compounds are formed.
Compound
- two or more elements that are combined in
specific proportions.
Ex - NaCl
Salt
a.k.a.
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What holds the Compounds together?
Bonds, Chemical Bonds
Def - forces that hold individual atoms and
compounds together
Types
Ionic Bond
- the theft of an electron
Happens when atoms are strongly charged and -
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Covalent Bond
- sharing an electron
Happens when atoms are not strong enough to steal
electrons.
H2O
Example
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Hydrogen Bonds
- weak attraction between atoms because of their
magnetic attraction

Water molecules have the hydrogen atoms (blue)
only on one side which gives them a positive
charge at that end.
-


-
At the other end the oxygen (red) has a negative
charge
-
When another water molecule is near, they are
attracted to (positive to negative)
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Water, Water, Everywhere.
Water the universal solvent

Polar (polarity) having a definite positive and
negative region on/in a molecule.
-
That means that a water molecule is like a little
magnet!
Anything that is magnet (polar) will stick to
water!!
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Water sticks to other things
Adhesion
-the ability of water to stick to other polar
molecules.
This is how plants get water to the top of the
trees, and how paper towels pick up spills.
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Cohesion
- the ability of water molecules to stick to
other water molecules.
We must break through these bonds to enter water.
Surface tension cohesion at the surface of water
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When you put sugar in your tea, what happens?
The sugar dissolves
The water molecules surround the glucose
molecules and pull them away from other ones.
Solution
- combination of components are evenly
distributed in a liquid substance (water)
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If you put sand in water and mix it, what happens?
The sand sinks to the bottom.
Suspension
- components of a mixture that will not dissolve
in the liquid, thus settle.
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Acids and Bases

• One of the most important aspects of a living
  system is the degree of acidity or alkalinity

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• Acids form Hydrogen ions in water H
• HCl ? H Cl-
• Bases form Hydroxide ions in water OH-
• - NaOH ? Na OH-

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Acids

• Number of hydronium ions in solutions is greater
  than the number of hydroxide ions
• HCl ? H Cl-

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Bases

• Number of hydroxide ions in solution is greater
  than the number of hydronium ions
• NaOH ? Na OH-

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Why does orange juice sting sometimes?
Why does Coca-Cola fizz?
Acid is in there!
Acid and Base is a part of everything around you.
It is measured on a scale called a pH scale
Acid 0
Base 14
Neutral 7
Stomach acid 1.5
Orange juice 3
Soap 10.0
Bleach 13
Water 7.0
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Carbon Compounds
Carbon
An element that is used by organic life forms to
make molecules of the body.
Macromolecule
Macro large or many
Molecule arranged atoms
Def a large molecule composed of many units, or
smaller molecules
But if I add a lot of them together, I get
Glucose
Ex
Complex Carbs
A single 6 carbon ring
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A single unit is a MONOMER
Having multiple units is a POLYMER
Four Molecules of Life!!
First Carbohydrates
What is a Carb?
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Chemical Structure of a Carbohydrate
Carbohydrates are found in the Ratio of 1
Carbon to 2 Hydrogen to 1 Oxygen 121 or
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O
H
C
H
Glucose (simplest carb)
C6H12O6
Usually found in a ring
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Where do we see Glucose in our daily lives?
Honey is Glucose with minor things added by the
bees.
If you put two glucose molecules together, you
can get several different things
Sucrose
Lactose
Fructose
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If you stick several Glucose Molecules together
we get
Complex carbs! a.k.a. polysaccharides
Def long term storage of glucose used for
different things
Starch Used by plants to store excess glucose
Cellulose Used by plants as a building material
Glycogen Used by animals to store excess glucose
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What can you eat that has more energy than Carbs?
FATS!
Second Molecule Lipids (fats) can store enough
energy that they can even hold a flame!
Plants store fat as liquids.
Animals store fat as solids
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Lipid Composition
A Glycerin Molecule
This acts as a connector for
Three Fatty acids
The fatty acids contain several carbon groups
that store energy in their bonds.
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Uses for Lipids
1. Energy Storage
We use fatty acids for energy when we work out
and carbs. have been used up
2. Structure of cells
Every cell has a cell membrane that is made of
Phospholipids.
3. Messengers
Steroids are lipids that carry messages through
the blood stream
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If I am trying to get strong, what do I eat?
MEAT!
a.k.a. Proteins
Third Molecule Proteins are used as
structural components in all cells!
Amino acids - 20 different molecules that
combine to make all proteins
These are just two
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Protein Uses
Construction
Proteins build components inside and outside our
cells
Enzyme reactions
Enzymes are special proteins that build or break
down materials inside or outside the cells
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What happens to the food you eat?
Enzymes break down the food by acting as a
Catalyst
Enzyme (catalyst)
Food particle (substrate)
Catalyst anything that makes a reaction take
place without being changed itself
The enzyme attaches to the food at the active
site
The enzyme breaks the food into smaller usable
pieces (products) and releases them
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Fourth Molecule
Nucleic Acids The cells Blueprint
DNA RNA
DeoxyriboNucleic Acid RiboNucleic Acid
The basic building blocks that make up nucleic
acids are called NUCLEOTIDES
Phosphate group
Ribose Sugar
Nitrogen Base
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DNA
Contains all the genetic material that is needed
by the cell.
It is found in a Double Helix, two twists in a
clockwise spiral.
RNA
A single strand of Nucleotides that carries a
message of genetic material out of the nucleus.
Its purpose is to build a Protein.
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Review for test
Define
1. Atom 2. Isotope 3. Ion 4. Molecule 5.
Covalent bonds 6. Ionic bonds 7. Mixture 8.
Products 9. Solution 10. Solute 11.
Solvent 12. Adhesion 13. Cohesion 14.
Monomer 15. Polymer 16. Carbohydrate 17. Lipid
18. Nucleic acid 19. DNA 20. RNA 21.
Nucleotide 22. Protein 23. Amino Acid 24.
Enzyme 25. Substrate
Questions
1. Compare and contrast Adhesion and Cohesion
2. How is polarity used by cells in compounds?
3. Describe two Chemical Bonds.
4. Compare and contrast four types of
biomolecules.