organic compounds
compounds made primarily of carbon atoms
inorganic compounds
don't generally contain carbon atoms
functional groups
clusters of atoms that influence the characteristics of the molecules they compose and the chemical reactions they undergo
monomers
small, simple molecules
polymers
molecule that consists of repeated, linked units
macromolecules
large polymers
condensatoin reaction
monomers linking to form polymers (a water molecule is released)
hydrolysis
water is used to break down a polymer
adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
a certain compound that stores a large amount of energy in its overall structure
polypeptide
long chain of amino acids
triglycerides
3 fatty acids; 1 glycerol
phospholipids
make up cell membranes-- consist of 2 fatty acids; 1 glycerol
wax
one long fatty acid chain joined to one long alcohol
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
contains all the genetic information
ribonucleic acid (RNA)
building proteins and acting as enzymes
monosaccharide
simple sugar
enzyme
RNA or protein molecules that act as biological catalysts
nucleotide
thousands of linked monomers; phosphate group, five-carbon sugar, + ring-shaped nitrogenous base
carbohydrate
organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen & oxygen in a ration of about one carbon atom to two hydrogen atoms to one oxygen atom
disaccharide
double sugar
polysaccharide
complex molecule composed of three or more monosaccharides
protein
organic compound composed mainly of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen
amino acids
an organic molecule that contains a carboxyl and an amino group and that makes up protein
peptide bond
condensation reaction in which two amino acids from a covalent bond and release a water molecul
substrate
the reactant being catalyzed
active sites
folds in an enzyme with a shape that allows the substrate to fit into it
fatty acids
unbranched carbon chains that make up most lipids
mucleic acid
very large and complex orgainc molecules that store and transfer important information in the cell