Transcript Chapter 2
Chapter 2
THE MOLECULES OF
CELLS
PAGES 18-44
Matter
A SUB STA N C E THA T
O C C UP I ES SP A C E A N D HA S
M A SS;
- A S UB STA N C E C O M P O SED O F
A TO M S
-
Atom
- THE SMALLEST UNIT OF AN
ELEMENT
that possesses all the
characteristics of that element
- UNIT OF AN ELEMENT THAT
IS NOT EASILY DIVISIBLE
BY ORDINARY
CHEMICAL
MEANS
Atom
Composed of :
1 or more protons (positive charge),
usually 1 or more neutrons (no charge),
and 1 or more electrons
(negative charge)
Often the number of protons and electrons are
equal. The resulting atom has no net charge.
Fig. 2.2
Element
a pure substance composed of only one kind
of atom
e.g. hydrogen (H), carbon (C), oxygen (O)
(See 1114 webpage for a list of chemical
symbols you should know.)
Different elements must have a different
number of protons in the nucleus
Isotope
an atom of an element that differs in the number of
neutrons in the nucleus
e.g. Carbon 12 (12C) and Carbon 14 (14C)
both are carbon, must have 6 protons
12C has 6 protons and 6 neutrons
14C has 6 protons and 8 neutrons
Radioactive Isotope
an unstable isotope; an atom that will decay (change)
into a different element as subatomic particles are
lost from the nucleus
e.g.
14C
6p + 8n
14N
+ 1e7p + 7n
Ion
an atom of an element that has gained or lost one or
more electrons
e.g. H+, Na+ - both have lost one electron
Cl- - has gained one electron
Molecule
a substance composed of two or more atoms; the
atoms may be identical or may be different elements.
e.g. water
H2O
glucose
C6H12O6
oxygen gas O2
Chemical Bond
an attractive force between two atoms
Three different types:
Ionic
Covalent
Hydrogen
Ionic Bond
the chemical bond that results from the attractive
force between two oppositely charged ions
e.g. table salt
Na+ - Cl-
Ionic bonds are not extremely strong.
Covalent Bonds
chemical bonds that result from two atoms
sharing one or more pairs of electrons;
produces a relatively strong bond
Two types of covalent bonds:
Nonpolar covalent bond – the pair(s) of
electrons are shared equally
Polar covalent bond – the pair(s) of
electrons are not shared equally
Nonpolar covalent bond
Chlorine atoms share 1 pair of electrons
Fig. 2.6
Polar covalent bonds
O and H do not share electrons equally
FIG.
2.6
O and H have partial charges due to polar
covalent bonds
Pg. 26
Hydrogen Bond
an attractive force between two atoms with opposite
partial charges
The atoms are not ions, the partial charges result
from the atoms being polar covalently bonded to
some other atom.
weak bonds, but very important in living systems
O forms hydrogen bonds with H BETWEEN
water molecules
Fig. 2.8
Hydrophilic
- the substance is attracted to
water; will form H bonds with water;
contains some polar covalent bonds
Hydrophobic
- the substance is repelled by
water; will not form H bonds with
water; contains mostly nonpolar
covalent bonds
Hydrophilic – e.g. glucose
O-H bond is polar covalent
Fig. 2.17
A fatty acid – all the C-C and
C-H bonds are nonpolar covalent
Fig. 2.22
WILL THIS MOLECULE FORM
ANY H BONDS WITH WATER?
Oxidation – the loss of one or more
electrons from an atom or molecule
Reduction – the gaining of one or
more electrons from an atom or
molecule
Usually linked; referred to as
oxidation/reduction reactions
Oxidation/reduction is important
in living systems because energy
is transferred from molecule to
molecule with the electrons.
Oxidation – loss of e- and energy
Reduction – gaining of e- and
energy
NADox + e- + H+ NADHre
lower energy
higher energy
Acid
- a substance that releases hydrogen
ions when placed in solution
e.g. HCl H+ + ClBase
- a substance that combines with H+
when placed in solution
e.g. HCO3- + H+ H2CO3
pH
- a measure of the hydrogen ion
concentration of a solution
- ranges from 0 to 14
0 – the most acidic, lots of H+
14 – the least acidic, very few H+
(most alkaline or basic)
7 – neutral, neither acidic or
basic
pH is the negative logarithm of
the hydrogen ion concentration
Based on logarithms, each whole number
change represents a 10-fold change in H+.
pH 6 is 10X more acidic than pH 7
Negative log is why larger numbers represent
lower acidity.
100 = 1
10-1 = 0.1
10-2 = 0.01
10-14 = 0.000,000,000,000,01
Buffer
- a substance, that within a certain range,
maintains a constant pH by combining
with H+ when mixed with an acid, or
releasing H+ when mixed with a base
- Buffers do not necessarily maintain a
pH of 7.
H2O + CO2 H2CO3 HCO3- + H+
Organic Chemistry
“Organic chemistry nowadays almost
drives me mad. To me it appears like a
primeval tropical forest full of the most
remarkable things, a dreadful endless
jungle into which one does not dare
enter for there seems to be no way
out.”
Fredrich
Wohler 1835
Organic Chemistry
- the study of carbon containing
compounds
Organic molecule
- a molecule synthesized by living
organisms (no longer useful)
- a molecule containing 2 or more
carbon atoms (What about methane,
CH4?)
- a molecule containing at least the
elements carbon and hydrogen
Functional Groups
- parts of organic molecules
Hydroxyl group
Methyl group
Carboxyl (acidic) group
Amino group
Phosphate group
-OH
-CH3
-COOH
-NH2
-PO3
Families of Organic Molecules
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins
Nucleic Acids
Carbohydrates
Contain only C, H and O
Lots of hydroxyl groups
Three groups we’ll look at
Monosaccharides – simple sugars
Disaccharides – made from 2 simple
sugars
Polysaccharides – polymers of simple
sugars
Polymer
- a large molecule
composed of
repeating subunits,
monomers
e.g. polysaccharides,
proteins,
DNA, plastics, etc.
Monosaccharides – simple sugars
Contain only C, H, and O
Ratio of these three elements is:
1C : 2H : 1O
Lots of hydroxyl groups, -O-H
Dissolve easily in water. Why?
e.g.
glucose or fructose, C6H12O6
ribose, C5H10O5
Disaccharides
Composed of 2 simple sugars bonded
together
C:H:O ratio not quite 1:2:1
e.g. sucrose, C12H22O11, made from joining glucose
and fructose, both C6H12O6
Easily digested to simple sugars
Polysaccharides
Contain only C, H and O
Ratio not 1C:2H:1O, but still contains lots
of O
Size limits solubility in water
e.g. starch and cellulose are both
polysaccharides made from only glucose
starch – easily digested
cellulose – undigestible by most
organisms
Lipids
Usually contain only C, H and O
Ratio of C:H:O nowhere near 1:2:1
lots of C and H, relatively little O
• 4 types we’ll look at:
Fatty Acids
Glycerides
Phospholipids Steroids
Fatty Acids
Consist of a carboxyl group and a hydrocarbon
chain
Fig. 2.22
Saturated Fatty Acids
at least 2 H atoms bonded to each of the C in the
hydrocarbon chain
Fig.
2.22 in animal fats; solid at room temperature
Common
Unsaturated Fatty Acids
One or more C atoms in the hydrocarbon chain
have less than 2 H atoms bonded to them.
Fig.
2.22 in vegetable oils; liquid at room temp.
Common
Glycerides
Glycerol and 1, 2 or 3 fatty acids
(mono-, di-, or triglycerides)
How are they synthesized?
How do you digest them?
Phospholipids
A diglyceride + phosphate group + R group
Lipid end is hydrophobic
Phosphate and R group end is hydrophilic
Form the basic structure of all cell membranes
Steroids
Non-fatty acid lipids
Contain only lots of C, H and little
O
Behaves like other lipids
e.g. cholesterol
Absolutely necessary –
e.g. cell membranes, sex
Proteins
Contain nitrogen, in amino groups
Made from long chains of amino
acids
Very diverse group of molecules;
very diverse functions
Shape is extremely important
Amino Acids
An amino group and a carboxyl
group bonded to the same
carbon atom
Differ in the R group attached to
the central carbon atom
Amino Acids
All proteins made from different
combinations of the same 20 amino
acids
Humans have 8 (children 9)
essential amino acids – must be
present in diet
Polypeptide
A small polymer of amino acids;
part of a protein molecule.
Peptide bonds – a covalent bond
between the carboxyl group of
one amino acid and the amino
group of the following amino
acid.
Synthesis? Digestion?
Denaturation
A change in the shape of a molecule.
Shape is very important in organic molecules,
especially proteins.
e.g. frying an egg; sickle-cell anemia
Nucleic Acids
An organic molecule composed of
long chains of nucleotides.
e.g. DNA, RNA
Nucleotides
An organic molecule composed of:
1 or more phosphate groups,
a 5-carbon sugar,
and a nitrogenous base
Adenosine Triphosphate - ATP
A nucleotide involved in most of the reactions in
which energy is transferred in living organisms
Composed of Adenine (N-base), 5-C sugar and three
phosphate groups