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Microbiology: Biochemistry Basics

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Termini in questo insieme (28)

  • What are atoms?
    Atoms are the smallest units of elements, which are pure substances that make up ordinary matter.
  • What particles are found in the atomic nucleus?
    The atomic nucleus contains protons (positively charged) and neutrons (neutral). Electrons (negatively charged) orbit around the nucleus.
  • What defines an element's atomic number?
    The atomic number is the number of protons in an atom and is unique to each element.
  • What is the difference between an anion and a cation?
    Cations are positively charged ions formed by losing electrons; anions are negatively charged ions formed by gaining electrons.
  • What are isotopes?
    Isotopes are atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
  • Define molecule, compound, and isomer.
    A molecule is two or more atoms bonded; a compound is a molecule with different elements; isomers have the same formula but different structures.
  • How do you write molecular formulas for carbon-containing molecules?
    List carbon (C) first, then hydrogen (H), followed by other elements in alphabetical order.
  • What distinguishes organic from inorganic compounds?
    Organic compounds contain carbon and hydrogen; inorganic compounds may contain carbon but lack associated hydrogen.
  • What is the pH scale and what does it measure?
    The pH scale measures acidity or basicity of a solution, ranging from 0 (acidic) to 14 (basic), with 7 being neutral.
  • What happens to pH when acids or bases are added to a solution?
    Adding acid decreases pH; adding base increases pH.
  • What are buffers and why are they important?
    Buffers stabilize pH by absorbing or releasing hydrogen ions, maintaining biological system balance.
  • What are valence electrons and their role in bonding?
    Valence electrons are electrons in the outer shell that participate in chemical bonding.
  • Describe ionic bonds.
    Ionic bonds form by transfer of electrons between atoms, creating oppositely charged ions attracted electrostatically.
  • What are electrolytes?
    Electrolytes are free ions in solution that conduct electricity, formed when ionic compounds dissolve.
  • Describe covalent bonds.
    Covalent bonds involve sharing one or more pairs of electrons between atoms.
  • What are polar covalent bonds?
    Polar covalent bonds result from unequal sharing of electrons, creating partial positive and negative charges (dipoles).
  • What are hydrogen bonds?
    Hydrogen bonds are noncovalent electrostatic attractions between molecules or within large molecules.
  • What are van der Waals interactions?
    Weak attractions from temporary dipoles in molecules that stabilize molecular structures when combined.
  • Define hydrophilic, hydrophobic, and amphipathic molecules.
    Hydrophilic molecules dissolve in water; hydrophobic do not; amphipathic have both properties.
  • What are the four main classes of biomolecules?
    Carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins.
  • What are glycosidic, peptide, and phosphodiester bonds?
    Glycosidic bonds link sugars; peptide bonds link amino acids; phosphodiester bonds link nucleotides.
  • What are monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides?
    Monosaccharides are single sugars; disaccharides are two linked sugars; polysaccharides are long sugar chains.
  • What is the difference between saturated and unsaturated lipids?
    Saturated lipids have no double bonds and pack tightly; unsaturated lipids have one or more double bonds causing kinks.
  • What are the building blocks of nucleic acids?
    Nucleotides composed of a five-carbon sugar, phosphate groups, and nitrogenous bases.
  • What distinguishes DNA from RNA nucleotides?
    DNA contains deoxyribose sugar and thymine; RNA contains ribose sugar and uracil.
  • What are the four levels of protein structure?
    Primary (amino acid sequence), secondary (alpha-helices and beta-sheets), tertiary (3D folding), quaternary (multiple polypeptides).
  • What role do chaperone proteins play?
    Chaperones assist in proper protein folding, preventing misfolding and aggregation.
  • What are the main functions of proteins?
    Proteins serve as enzymes, structural components, transporters, cell recognition, and communication molecules.