Term | Definition |
Amino Acid | The monomers that build proteins in all living cells |
Aqueous Solution | One or more substances dissolved in water |
Atom | The smallest portion into which an element can be divided and still enter into a chemical reaction |
Carbohydrate | An organic compound consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen that is an important source of carbon and energy for all organisms |
Cellulose | a polysaccharide carbohydrate composed of beta-glucose subunits |
Chemical Bond | A force between two or more atoms that tend to bind those atoms together |
Dehydration Synthesis Reaction | A process of bonding two molecules together by removing the products of water and joining the open bonds |
Denaturation | A process caused by heat or pH in which proteins lose their function due to changes in their molecular structure |
Deoxyribonucleic Acid | The genetic material of all cells and many viruses |
Disaccharide | A sugar formed from two single sugar molecules |
Double Helix | The structure of DNA, in which the two complementary strands are connected by hydrogen bonds |
Electron | A negatively charged particle with a small mass that moves around the nucleus of an atom |
Element | A substance that cannot be chemically interconverted or broken down into simpler substances and are primary constituents of matter; distinguished by its atomic number, i.e., the number of protons in the nuclei of its atoms |
Enzyme | A reusable protein molecule that brings about a chemical change while itself remaining unchanged |
Fat | A type of lipid made up of a glycerol attached to three fatty acids |
Hydrolysis Reaction | A process in which a molecule is split into two parts through the interaction of H+ and (OH)- of a water molecule |
Hydrophilic | Referring to a substance that dissolves easily in or mixes easily with water |
Hydrophobic | Referring to a substance that does not dissolve in or mix easily with water |
Lipid | A nonpolar organic compound composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen |
Molecule | Two or more atoms held together by a sharing of electrons |
Monosaccharide | A simple sugar that cannot be broken down into simpler sugars |
Neutron | An uncharged particle in the atomic nucleus |
Nucleic Acid | A high-molecular weight molecule consisting of nucleotide chains that convey genetic information and are found n all living cells and viruses |
Nucleobase | Any of five nitrogen-containing compounds found in nucleic acids |
Oil | A fat that is liquid at room temperature |
Organic | Referring to chemicals that contain carbon atoms |
Peptide Bond | A linkage between the amino group on one amino acid and the carboxyl group on another amino acid |
Peptidoglycan | A complex molecule of the bacterial cell wall |
Phospholipid | A water-insoluble compound containing glycerol, two fatty acids and a phosphate head group |
Polypeptide | A chain of linked amino acids |
Polysaccharide | A complex carbohydrate made up of sugar molecules linked into a branched or chain structure |
Primary Structure | The sequence of amino acids in a protein |
Protein | A chain or chains of linked amino acids used as a structural material or enzyme in a living cell |
Quaternary Structure | Two or more polypeptides bonded together to form the final functional protein |
Ribonucleic Acid | The nucleic acid involved in protein synthesis and gene control |
Saturated | Referring to a water-insoluble compound that cannot incorporate any additional hydrogen atoms |
Secondary Structure | The region of a polypeptide folded into an alpha helix or pleated sheet |
Starch | An energy polysaccharide that is built from many glucose molecules |
Sterol | An organic solid containing several carbon rings with side chains |
Tertiary Structure | The folding of a polypeptide back on itself |
Unsaturated | Referring to a water insoluble compound that can incorporate additional hydrogen atoms |