AP BIO -- Chemistry of Life

• Water's properties


  Polarity, Hydrogen Bonding, Cohesion and Adhesion, Surface Tension, High Specific Heat and High Heat of Vaporization, Solvent of Life
• Polarity of Water


  Polar covalent bonds between O and H, unequal sharing of electrons, polar due to asymmetry, large negativity difference between O and H.
• Hydrogen Bonding


  Temporary, break easily, H bonds with one O, O bonds with two H, temperature increase = less stability.
• Cohesion 


  Water bonds with water, both Cohesion and Adhesion are at work when supplying plants with water.
• Adhesion 


  Water bonds with another substance, for something to stick to water it must be fully/partially charged.
• Surface Tension


  Asymmetry of attraction makes for high surface tension, atoms on the surface are attracted to one side (not up to the air) and atoms in the middle are attracted equally in all directions.
• High Specific Heat and High Heat of Vaporization


  Specific Heat is the amount of energy required to change the temperature of 1g of a substance by 1 degree Celcius. The heat of vaporization is the quantity of heat a liquid must absorb for 1g to be converted from a liquid to a gas. Allows water to moderate temperature, and evaporate.
• Ice vs Liquid Water


  Ice is less dense, water expands when it freezes, ice insulates the water below.
• Solvent of Life


  Versatile solvent, things can be dissolved in it if they have a charge, almost all reactions with living things take place in an aqueous environment.
• Organic Chemistry 


  Study of compounds that contain bonds between carbon atoms, to be classified as organic, a compound must have BOTH carbon and hydrogen.
• Carbon Structure


  Four valence electrons, can form four bonds. Carbons can bond to another C forming chains. C-C bonds can be single, double, triple. Chains can form rings of Carbon.
• Isomers


  The same numbers of atoms and elements but different structures leading to different properties.
• Functional Groups


  Chemical groups are typically involved directly in chemical reactions. Certain properties (shape and charge) cause them to behave a certain way in chemical reactions. 
• Macromolecules


  Most formed through Polymerization: monomers joined together.
• Dehydration Synthesis


  Forming larger molecules by taking away a water molecules from smaller molecules. In this reaction, water is a product. 
• Hydrolysis


  Breaking down by adding water. In this reaction, water is a reactant.
• Carbohydrates 


  Source of energy and cell structure. Starch and Glycogen, two polysaccharides that are usable by humans as an energy source. Glucose, Sucrose, Fructose, smaller carbohydrates. Cellulose, in the cell wall.
• Carbohydrate Structure


  CHO, typically 1:2:1 ratio, structural makeup ranges from small monosaccharides (simple sugars), intermediate molecules (I.e. disaccharides), to large polysaccharides (complex carbohydrates). Polysaccharides store energy, all composed of glucose monosaccharides but the bonds that connect them are drawn differently.
• Lipids


  CHO, Used for energy, cell structure, and waterproof coatings. Store 2x as much energy as carbs, not easily broken down, long term source of energy. Insulation and protection of internal organs, structural components of cell membranes (phospholipids). 
• Lipid Structure


  Fats, oils, steroids, waxes, phospholipids. Triglyceride = glycerol + 3 fatty acids.
• Saturated Fatty Acids


  Aka fats, no c-c double bonds, every carbon is saturated w/H, animal products. Likely solid at room temperature.
• Unsaturated Fatty Acids


  Oils, 1 or more C=C double bonds, every carbon is not saturated w/H, plant oil products. Likely be liquid at room temperature.
• Trans Fatty Acids


  More stable over time, keeps things from going bad, treated by the body worse. Created by adding hydrogens to an unsaturated fatty acid.
• Proteins


  CHON, many types with many functions, for example: control the rate of reactions, regulation of cellular processes, formation of cellular structures, transporting substances into/out of cells, fight disease (i.e antibodies). Most diverse group of organic compounds.
• Amino Acids


  Monomers of a protein, contain a central Carbon (C), a carboxyl group (COOH), and an amino group (NH2), and one H atom. Plus each amino acid has a unique "R" group that is one of 20 different side chains.
• Protein Structure


  When they are first formed, proteins are linear chains of amino acids from the N terminus to the C terminus (Primary structure). The backbone forms hydrogen bonds into alpha helix or beta pleated sheet (Secondary structure). R group bonding interactions fold the protein even more (Tertiary structure). Two or more separate amino acid chains interacting (Quaternary structure).
• Denaturation


  Hydrogen bonds are disrupted, affects the proteins function.
• Nucleic Acid


  CHONP. DNA and RNA. Transmission of genetic information. A special nucleotide called ATP stores and releases energy.
• Nucleotide


  Monomer of nucleic acids, contain a 5-carbon sugar (ribose or deoxyribose), a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.
• DNA


  DeoxyRiboNucleicAcid, contains deoxyribose, holds genes for cellular proteins, double helix.
• RNA


  RiboNucleicAcid, contains ribose, help create proteins with DNA, shape is a single helix but it often folds on itself to have double stranded sections.