Basic Biochemistry Review Guide

1. Make up of an atom, compound, and types of bonds that hold a single molecule together
as well as molecules to each other.
● Atom-smallest unit of the element, ans till keeps trait of that element
● Compound-substance made by two or more elements that are in a set ratio
● Bonds bind chemical compounds together
○ Covalent bond-molecules share electrons, strongest. ex: hydrogen and oxygen’s
electrons traveling between the rings in H2O
○ Ionic bond-one atom steals another electron(s) from another atom=one atom is
more positive/negative than the other=polarity=they stick! ex:NaCl, salt
○ Hydrogen Bonds-because of polarity, hydrogen and oxygen attract on the water
molecule. ex: water molecule attracts with other water molecule
2. Know important properties of water including:
a. bonding, cohesion (attraction of same molecules of same substance), adhesion
(attraction between molecules of different substances), capillary action (adhesion and
cohesion work together for water to travel from the roots to the top of the plant), surface
tension (molecule being pulled in different directions,=surface very taunt), density of a solid
(solid water=less dense than liquid=floats!), high specific heat (water is less dense as a
solid=more air in between the molecules=more insulation. water also holds lost of heat=all of
this=HIGH SPECIFIC HEAT)
b. Understand why those properties allow for life on earth.
● need capillary action for plants, ice needs to float or everything would be frozen :)
3. Know Biomolecules Foldable

Monomer Polymer Biomolecule

Monosaccharides Polysaccharides Carbohydrate CHO (1:2:1)
Amino Acids Polypeptides/ Proteins Proteins CHON (Enzymes are proteins)
Nucleotides Nucleic Acids Nucleic Acids CHONP
*Lipids (CHO) don’t have monomers and polymers, they have glycerol (where the oxygen is)
and fatty acid tails. (Poly/Mono)Unsaturated fats=one or more carbon double bond. Saturated
fats=no double carbon bond.
4. Review Enzymes including:
a. Catalyst (enzymes are biological catalysts. catalysts reduce the activation energy=more
efficient, chemical reaction takes place sooner) , inhibitor (same shape as substrate, slows the
rate of the reaction by taking their space) , environmental factors affecting (so when you get
sick, your body heats up to a fever, so that means that everything works really fast, and so you
have a high metabolic rate.=bad because it makes you loose weight. so inhibitors are
“activated” so you can stop some of this), substrate (reactants that fit into the active site,
making it an enzyme-substrate complex on the enzyme), chemical reactions (absorb or
produce energy. breaks down bonds then reforms the bonds=products, nothing lost, nothing
gained. reactants -> products), activation energy (amount of energy that it takes for the
reaction to get started)
b. Know many examples of how enzymes work in your body.
 ● sucrase (carbohydrates). sucrase and sucrose=substrate specific=breaks sucrose
apart=energy from the bonds
● catalaist works with H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide)

FYI-Solutions are when the solutes are evenly distributed throughout the solvent EX: water and
salt
-Suspensions are when the solute is so small, it can’t dissolve in water=”suspended”
EX:blood (water and hormones/etc.)
-pH scale measrures the concentration of H+ ions. Acidic=lower than 7. base=higher
than 7. 7=neutral. Acidic= more H+ ions, less OH- ions. Base=more OH- ions, less H+ ions

5. Study the Water Properties, Biomolecules and Enzymes ppt .

6. Continue to study both reading and lecture notes and add facts from the above.
7. Study the Ch. 2 Study Guide. Highlight vocabulary.
8. Study with your Study Group; quiz each other.
9. Come in for tutorials and ask questions. (Mrs. Olt in AM and Mrs. Pass in PM).