Atom
The smallest portion of an element found in the periodic chart; examples include carbon, oxygen, gold
Biomolecule
An organic molecule produced by a living organisn
Chemical bond
A connection made between atoms when electrons are attracted, shared, or transferred
Condensation Reaction
A chemical reaction that combines smaller molecules and forms water as a byproduct; the reaction is often used to form polymers
Covalent bond
A chemical bond formed when elements share electrons
Hydrolysis reaction
A chemical reaction between water and another molecule that breaks down the molecule into simpler molecules; the reaction splits a water molecule to break apart a polymer into the monomers
Inorganic molecule
A molecule that is not organic; most do not include carbon; examples include water, ammonia, table salt, and carbon dioxide
Ion
An electrically charged atom that has either gained or lose electrons
Ionic bond
A chemical bond formed when elements transfer electrons
Macro molecules
The large biomolecules that make up living organisms; include proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nuclei acids
Molecule
A chemical combination of two or more atoms that forms a separate substance; for example one molecule of water is made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom
Monomer
A small molecule that may be chemically bonded to other like molecules to form a polymer
Organic molecules
carbon containing molecules that are generally associated with living with organisms
Polymerization
The chemical process of combining monomers to form a polymer; often uses condensation reactions
Polymer
A long chain of monomers
Carbohydrate
An organic molecule made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
Cellulose
A polysaccharide used in the cell walls of plants to give cells structural support
Chitin
A polysaccharide that contains nitrogen groups
Disaccharide
A polymer of two simple sugars combined into one molecule
Glucose
A monosaccharide produced by plants during photosynthesis
Glycogen
A polysaccharide made by animal cells to store energy
Monosaccharide
A simple sugar
Polysaccharide
A polymer of sugar, meaning a long chain of sugar molecules chemically linked together
Saccharide
Another name for sugar or for a sugar polymer
Starch
A polysaccharide made by plants to store energy
Cholesterol
A type of steroid used in cell membranes and also used to make steroid hormones
Fat
A type of lipid used to store energy and a source of fatty acids
Fatty acid
AN organic acid that contains a long chain of hydrocarbons
Hydrophilic
Attracted to water
Hydrophobic
Repelled by water
Lipids
Organic molecules made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, but unlike carbohydrates, they do not dissolve in water
Monounsaturated fat
A fat that has one double carbon to carbon bond
Phospholipid
A type of lipid that helps to make up cell membranes
Polyunsaturated fat
A fat that has more than one double to carbon bond
Saturated fat
A fat that has all single carbon to carbon bonds and the maximum number of hydrogens attached to each carbon
Steriod
A type of lipid that can be present in cell membranes or can make up certain hormones
Wax
a type of lipid that is used to water proof leaves, skin, feathers, etc
amino acids
organic molecules that are building blocks of protein
nitrogen
an element found amino acids and proteins but NOT typically found in carbohydrates or fats
peptide bond
the bond between each amino acid in a protein
polypeptide
a chain of amino acids
protein
an organic molecule with many important functions; the main structural component of muscle, skin, bone, ect
activation energy
the energy needed for a chemical reaction to take place
active site
the part of an enzyme that "attaches to" a substrate
catalyst
a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed in the reaction
denature
to change the structure of a protein so that it no longer functions in the same way
enzyme
a biological catalyst that enables chemical reactions to take place in cells
enzyme-substrate complex
the structure that is formed when a substrate binds to the active site of an enzyme
metabolic pathway
a series of reactions, one after another, that occurs in a cell
pH
a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a substance
substate
a substance that is changed by an enzyme