Biochemistry

• metabolism is the process of intaking substances, processing substances, and eliminating waste

  • cellular respiration
  • photosynthesis
  • cell division
• Elements are substances that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means
• Ions are atoms that have a different number of electrons than protons. Cations are positive, anions are negative
• The five most abundant elements that make up living things are oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and calcium
• isotopes are atoms of the same element that contain different numbers of neutrons
• radioisotopes are unstable isotopes
• the three isotopes of hydrogen are protium, deuterium, and tritium
• chemical bonds are forces that hold the atoms together in the form of compounds
• electronegativity is a measure of the relative abilities of bonding atoms to attract electrons
• Ionic Bonds are the transferring of one or more electrons from one atom to another
• Covalent Bonds are when two nonmetal atoms share pairs of electrons
• Polar molecules have unequal distribution of charge as a result of its polar bonds and shape
• ionic solids become so readily dissociated in water because the positively charged poles of water molecules are attracted to the anions and the negatively charged poles of water molecules are attracted to the cations
• hydrophobic: compounds that do not interact with water

  • non polar
  • insoluble
  • e.g., fats (lipids), hydrocarbons
• hydrophilic: compounds that interact with water

  • polar
  • soluble
  • e.g., salts, alcohols, acids, bases
• A molecule of water contains two hydrogen atoms, one oxygen atom, and covalent bonds between hydrogen and oxygen.
• the density of electrons are greater around the oxygen atom than the hydrogen atom
• water molecules have a weak attraction to each other
• oxygen is negatively charged and hydrogen is positively charged
• Organic: contains carbon bonded to hydrogen

  • comprises over 90% of all compounds
  • e.g., carbohydrates, plastics, synthetic fibers, dyes
  • covalent bonding
  • low melting and boiling points
  • varied states of matter
  • insoluble in polar solvents
  • non-conductors
  • reacts with oxygen
  • more than one structural arrangement
• Inorganic: compounds that do not contain carbon bonded to hydrogen

  • comprise less than 10% of all compounds
  • e.g., water, salt, polyatomic compounds, cyanides, carbonates
  • ionic bond
  • high melting and boiling points
  • solid form
  • soluble in polar solvents
  • conductors
  • do not react with oxygen
  • only one compound
• Alkane: single bond, saturated

  • prefix is "-ane"
  • CnH2n+2
  • nonpolar
  • low mp and bp
• Alkene: double bonds, unsaturated

  • prefix is "-ene"
  • CnH2n
  • nonpolar
• Alkyne: triple bonds, unsaturated

  • prefix is "-yne"
  • CnH2n-2
  • nonpolar
• Aromatic: Benzene

  • nonpolar
• alcohol: Prefix is "-ol"

  • R-OH
  • OH is a hydroxyl group
  • polar
  • high mp and bp
• aldehydes: Prefix is "-al"

  O

  ||

  R-CH

  • Carbonyl group
  • Polar
  • high mp and bp
  • soluble
• Ketone: Prefix is "-one"

  O

  ||

  R-C-R

  • Polar
  • soluble
• Carboxylic Acid: prefix is "-oic acid"

  O

  ||

  R-COH

  • Most polar
  • high mp and bp
  • soluble
• Ester: Prefix is "___yl ___oate"

  O

  ||

  R-C-O-R

  • unsaturated
  • polar
• Ether: Prefix is "-oxy"

  R-O-R

  • Polar
• Mercaptan: prefix is "Thiol-"

  R-SH

  • weakly polar
• Amine: Prefix is "amino-"

  R-NH2

  • polar
• Amide: polar

  O

  ||

  R-CNH2
• Halide: prefix is "-o"

  R-X
• Phosphate: highly electronegative

  3-

  PO4
• Amines are weak bases because they can accept protons.
• amphipathic: has both hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties, one end is hydrophilic, the other is hydrophobic