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Chemical Bonds in General Biology

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Terms in this set (20)

  • What are chemical bonds?
    Chemical bonds are attractions that hold atoms together when they share or transfer valence electrons to fill their outer shells.
  • Name the main types of chemical bonds.
    Covalent bonds, Ionic bonds, Hydrogen bonds, Van der Waals interactions, and Disulfide bridges.
  • What is a covalent bond?
    A covalent bond is the sharing of a pair of valence electrons between two atoms, counting as part of each atom's valence shell.
  • What types of covalent bonds exist?
    Single bonds share 1 pair, double bonds share 2 pairs, and triple bonds share 3 pairs of valence electrons.
  • How are atomic bonds represented?
    Structural formulas show atom arrangements and bond types; molecular formulas show the exact kind and number of atoms.
  • What is electronegativity?
    Electronegativity is an atom's attraction for electrons in a covalent bond; more electronegative atoms pull electrons more strongly.
  • Difference between non-polar and polar covalent bonds?
    Non-polar covalent bonds share electrons equally; polar covalent bonds share electrons unequally due to differing electronegativities.
  • What causes a polar molecule?
    Unequal sharing of electrons in a polar covalent bond causes partial positive and negative charges, forming a polar molecule.
  • What is an ionic bond?
    An ionic bond forms when atoms transfer electrons, creating oppositely charged ions (cations and anions) that attract each other.
  • What are cations and anions?
    Cations are positively charged ions; anions are negatively charged ions formed after electron transfer.
  • What are ionic compounds or salts?
    Compounds formed by ionic bonds, like sodium chloride (NaCl), often found as crystals in nature.
  • Role of weak chemical bonds in organisms?
    Weak bonds like ionic, hydrogen, Van der Waals, and disulfide bridges reinforce molecular shapes and help molecules adhere.
  • What is a hydrogen bond?
    A hydrogen bond forms when a partially positive hydrogen atom of one polar molecule is attracted to a partially negative atom of another.
  • What are Van der Waals interactions?
    Attractions between molecules close together due to uneven electron distribution creating temporary 'hot spots' of charge.
  • Why is molecular shape important in biology?
    Molecular shape determines function and interaction; molecules with similar shapes can have similar biological effects.
  • What determines a molecule's shape?
    The positions of atoms' valence orbitals determine the shape of a molecule.
  • How do biological molecules recognize each other?
    Recognition and interaction depend on molecular shape complementarity.
  • Example of molecules with similar shapes having similar effects?
    Natural endorphins and morphine have similar shapes and bind to the same receptors, producing similar effects.
  • What is a molecule?
    A molecule consists of two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds.
  • What is bonding capacity or valence?
    The number of covalent bonds an atom can form, determined by its valence electrons.