The Chemical Basis for Life- BioChemistry

Front

What is the role of hydrogen bonds in water?

Back

Hydrogen bonds result in water cohesion, which creates surface tension, allowing certain insects, like water striders, to skate on water.

Front

What is the pH scale and what does a pH of 4 indicate?

Back

The pH scale measures the acidity or basicity of a solution. A pH of 4 indicates that the substance is acidic.

Front

What are carbohydrates?

Back

Carbohydrates are organic molecules made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, and they serve as a primary energy source for living organisms.

Front

What property of water causes it to bead up on surfaces?

Back

High surface tension, due to hydrogen bonding, causes water to bead up on surfaces like a penny.

Front

What are nucleotides?

Back

Nucleotides are the monomers that make up nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA.

Front

Define cohesion in the context of water.

Back

Cohesion is the property of water that allows molecules to stick to each other, resulting in surface tension.

Front

What is the difference between an acid and a base?

Back

An acid is a substance that donates protons (H+) in a solution, while a base is a substance that accepts protons.

Front

What are lipids and their function?

Back

Lipids are organic molecules that are hydrophobic and serve as long-term energy storage, insulation, and make up cell membranes.

Front

What are proteins made of?

Back

Proteins are made of amino acids, which are linked together by peptide bonds.

Front

What is the universal solvent?

Back

Water is known as the universal solvent because it can dissolve more substances than any other liquid.