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Compounds
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| element | any substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances |
| compound | when two or more elements combine chemically |
| water | most chemical reactions within cells could not take place without this compound |
| organic compound | compound that contains the element carbon |
| inorganic compound | compound that does not contain the element carbon |
| carbohydrate | energy rich organic compound; sugars, starches, potatoes, pasta and rice are examples |
| lipid | energy rich organic compound; contain more energy than carbohydrates; fats, oils and waxes are examples |
| protein | large organic molecules; meat, eggs, fish, nuts and beans are examples |
| amino acid | small molecule that is linked chemically to other amino acids to form proteins |
| enzyme | a type of protein that speeds up a chemical reaction in a living thing |
| nucleic acid | long organic molecules that contain the instructions that cells need to carry out all the functions of life |
| DNA | genetic material that carries information about an organism and is passed from parent to offspring |
| RNA | plays an important role in the production of proteins; located in cytoplasm as well as the nucleus of a cell |