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General Biology: Life's Molecules and Lipids

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  • Which atoms have higher electronegativity: oxygen or hydrogen?

    Oxygen has higher electronegativity because it attracts electrons more strongly due to its greater number of protons and smaller atomic radius.

  • What type of bond forms between two hydrogen atoms (H-H)?

    A nonpolar covalent bond with evenly shared electrons because both atoms have similar electronegativity.

  • Describe the bond in a water molecule (H2O) between hydrogen and oxygen.

    A polar covalent bond where electrons are more tightly held by oxygen, creating partial charges.

  • What is the structure of a water molecule and how do hydrogen bonds form between water molecules?

    Water has a bent shape with polar covalent bonds; hydrogen bonds form between the partial positive hydrogen of one molecule and the partial negative oxygen of another.

  • How do hydrogen bonds contribute to water's properties as a solvent?

    Hydrogen bonds allow water to interact with and dissolve many polar and charged molecules, making it the solvent of life.

  • Compare ionic bonds, polar covalent bonds, nonpolar covalent bonds, and hydrogen bonds.

    Ionic bonds transfer electrons; polar covalent bonds share electrons unequally; nonpolar covalent bonds share electrons equally; hydrogen bonds are weak attractions between polar molecules.

  • How do polar and nonpolar bonds differ in their properties?

    Polar bonds create partial charges and interact with water; nonpolar bonds have no charge difference and are hydrophobic.

  • What determines if a molecule is hydrophilic or hydrophobic?

    Molecules with polar or charged bonds are hydrophilic; those with nonpolar bonds are hydrophobic.

  • What are the four classes of large biological molecules and their building blocks?

    Carbohydrates (monosaccharides), lipids (fatty acids and glycerol), proteins (amino acids), and nucleic acids (nucleotides).

  • Why is carbon special for life’s molecules?

    Carbon can form four covalent bonds, allowing complex, diverse, and stable molecules essential for life.

  • What is dehydration synthesis in biological molecules?

    A chemical reaction that joins molecules by removing water, forming covalent bonds.

  • What is hydrolysis in biological molecules?

    A reaction that breaks bonds by adding water, splitting molecules into smaller units.

  • What are the three categories of lipids?

    Fats, phospholipids, and steroids.

  • What are the building blocks of a fat?

    One glycerol molecule and three fatty acid chains.

  • How do saturated and unsaturated fatty acids differ structurally?

    Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds and are straight; unsaturated fatty acids have one or more C=C double bonds causing kinks.

  • How do saturated and unsaturated fatty acids differ in fluidity and energy content?

    Unsaturated fats are more fluid due to kinks; saturated fats are more solid and have slightly higher energy content.

  • Identify saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids.

    Saturated: no double bonds; monounsaturated: one double bond; polyunsaturated: multiple double bonds.

  • What are the building blocks of a phospholipid?

    One glycerol, two fatty acid tails, and a phosphate group head.

  • How does the structure of phospholipids relate to their function in membranes?

    Phospholipids have a hydrophilic, charged head and hydrophobic tails, forming bilayers that create cell membranes.

  • What is cholesterol classified as and what is its role?

    Cholesterol is a steroid and serves as a precursor for sex and stress hormones.