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Biochemistry
Biochemistry Vocabulary
Term | Definition |
---|---|
pH | is a scale of acidity from 0 to 14. It tells how acidic or alkaline a substance is. |
Enzyme | are large complex protein molecules that control the rate of chemical reactions. Enzymes are organic catalysts in cellular chemical reactions. |
Substrate | the substance on which an enzyme acts. |
Active site | is the region of an enzyme where substrate molecules bind and undergo a chemical reaction. |
Denature | destroy the characteristic properties of (a protein or other biological macromolecule) by heat, acidity, or other effects that disrupt its molecular conformation. |
Acid Rain | precipitation that is unusually acidic. It can have harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals and infrastructure. |
Acid | compound capable of donating a hydrogen (H+) ion to a water molecule. Can taste sour. |
Neutral | a solution, a chemical solution which is neither acidic nor basic. |
Base (alkalinity) | are substances that, in aqueous solution, release hydroxide (OH−) ions, are slippery to the touch, can taste bitter. |
Biochemistry | branch of science that studies metabolic reaction in organisms. |
Element | a material which cannot be broken down or changed into another substance using chemical means. Examples: H, C, O. |
Compound | substance consisting of two or more different chemically bonded chemical elements. Examples H2O, CO2 |
Organic compound | Are compounds that contain C & H together. |
Inorganic compound | H2O is an example of this type of compound. |
carbohydrates | are molecular compounds made from just three elements: carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. |
Lipids | organic compounds that are oily to the touch and insoluble in water. They are a source of stored energy and are a component of cell membranes. |
Proteins | their building blocks are amino acids |
Enzymes | Catalysts |
Hydrolysis | addition of water to break a large organic molecule. |
Dehydration Synthesis | removal of parts of water from small molecules to put together a large molecule. |