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Molecules of Life
Term | Definition |
---|---|
acid | compound that donates a proton (H) when dissolved in a solution |
base | compound that accepts a proton (H) when dissolved in solution |
pH | measurement of acidity; related to free hydrogen ion concentration in solution |
buffer | compound that can bind to an H+ ion when the H+ concentration decreases; locks up H+ ions and helps maintain homeostasis |
macro-molecule | large molecule formed by joining smaller organic molecules together |
polymer | large molecule formed from smaller repeating units of identical, or nearly identical, compounds linked by covalent bonds |
carbohydrate | molecule composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; includes sugars and starches |
lipid | nonpolar molecule composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; includes fats and oils |
protein | polymer composed of amino acids linked by peptide bonds; folds into a particular structure depending on bonds between amino acids |
nucleic acid | polymer of nucleotides; the genetic material of organisms |