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Anatomy & Physiology: Chemical Basis of Life and Organic Molecules

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Terms in this set (23)

  • What are the main components of an atom?
    Protons and neutrons form the nucleus, with electrons orbiting in shells around it.
  • What defines the atomic number and atomic weight of an element?
    Atomic number = number of protons. Atomic weight = number of protons + neutrons.
  • How do atoms form ionic bonds?
    Atoms gain or lose electrons to become charged ions, and oppositely charged ions attract to form ionic bonds.
  • What is a covalent bond?
    A bond formed when atoms share electrons to fill their outer shells, common in C, H, O, and N.
  • What role do hydrogen bonds play in molecules?
    Hydrogen bonds exist within or between polar covalent molecules and help maintain the 3D shape of macromolecules like proteins.
  • What is the difference between a molecule and a compound?
    A molecule is two or more atoms bonded; a compound is a molecule with atoms of different elements.
  • What happens during a synthesis chemical reaction?
    Two or more atoms or molecules join to form a larger molecule.
  • What is the function of enzymes in chemical reactions?
    Enzymes are protein catalysts that lower activation energy and speed up reactions without being consumed.
  • How do acids and bases affect pH?
    Acids release H+ ions, lowering pH; bases release ions that combine with H+, raising pH.
  • What is the pH scale range and what does it indicate?
    pH ranges from 0 to 14; 7 is neutral, below 7 is acidic, and above 7 is basic.
  • What are buffers and their role in the body?
    Buffers are compounds that minimize pH changes by donating or removing H+ ions to maintain homeostasis.
  • What are the four major types of organic compounds in the body?
    Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
  • What are monosaccharides and give examples?
    Simple sugars that are monomers of carbohydrates, e.g., glucose, fructose, galactose.
  • What is the structure of triglycerides?
    One glycerol molecule bonded to three fatty acid chains.
  • What distinguishes saturated from unsaturated fatty acids?
    Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds between carbons; unsaturated have one or more double bonds.
  • What is the primary structure of a protein?
    The sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain.
  • What stabilizes the secondary protein structure?
    Hydrogen bonds stabilize alpha helices and beta sheets.
  • What determines a protein's function?
    Its 3D shape, which can be altered by pH, temperature, or chemicals.
  • What are nucleotides composed of?
    A nitrogenous base, a 5-carbon sugar, and a phosphate group.
  • What is the difference between DNA and RNA?
    DNA contains deoxyribose sugar and stores genetic code; RNA contains ribose sugar and functions in protein synthesis.
  • What is dehydration synthesis?
    A chemical reaction that joins monomers by removing a water molecule.
  • What is hydrolysis?
    A reaction that breaks down polymers into monomers by adding water.
  • How do enzymes interact with substrates?
    Enzymes bind substrates at the active site to form an enzyme-substrate complex, then release products unchanged.