Download Chemistry of Life

Chapter 2 Study Guide Questions:
The study guide questions are posted to help you prepare for upcoming quizzes and tests. They will
only help you learn the material if you answer them completely and correctly. A one-word answer or
one sentence answer is not sufficient for most of these questions and it won’t prepare you for the
quizzes or tests. Finally, be sure you understand your own answers and you aren’t just copying
words from the textbook. If you rewrite the answer in your own words you are more likely to
understand and remember it.
These questions are not submitted to the instructor as homework, however, your instructor is happy to
review them and provide feedback to you.
After reading chapter 2, students should be able to answer the following questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Define matter.
Differentiate between an element and a compound. Provide an example of each.
Explain why chemical bonds are an essential component of chemical compounds.
Explain why chemical reactions are necessary for the formation and break down of chemical
compounds.
5. Define an organic compound.
6. Describe the general structure of carbon and explain why carbon is often considered the
“backbone of living organisms”.
7. Identify the four primary types of organic compounds. Compare and contrast their structure(s)
and function(s).
8. Summarize the main characteristics of carbohydrates.
a. Differentiate between a monosaccharide and a polysaccharide. Provide an example of
each.
b. Identify the specific complex carbohydrate used by humans to store energy. Do all
living organisms store energy in the same type of complex carbohydrate – explain your
answer.
9. Summarize the main characteristics of lipids.
a. Is butter a saturated fatty acid or an unsaturated fatty acid – explain your answer.
i. Be sure you understand how these types of lipids are different.
b. Differentiate between triglycerides, phospholipids, and steroids.
10. Summarize the main characteristics of proteins.
a. Differentiate between an amino acid and a polypeptide.
b. Describe the relationship between protein structure and function.
c. Identify and describe the various functions of proteins.
11. Summarize the main characteristics of nucleic acids.
a. Briefly describe the components of a nucleotide.
b. Describe the structure of DNA – explain the significance of complementary base
pairing.
c. Compare the structure of DNA and RNA.
d. Explain why DNA is essential for protein production.
12. Define a chemical reaction.
13. Identify the products and reactants in the following equation:
a. CH4 + 2O2  CO2 + 2H2O
b. Explain how the above chemical equation illustrates the principle of the conservation of
matter.
14. What is the general chemical equation for an endothermic reaction? Compare this to an
exothermic chemical reaction.
15. Explain why activation energy is essential for all chemical reactions.
16. Where do biochemical reactions occur?
17. Differentiate between the following: metabolic reaction, catabolic reaction, and an anabolic
reaction.
18. Is the chemical breakdown of starch in human cells a catabolic or anabolic reaction? Explain
your answer.
19. Define an enzyme. Explain why enzymes are essential for an organism’s survival.
20. What is the most common chemical substance on Earth?
21. Describe the chemical structure of water.
22. Use a diagram to illustrate the polarity of water molecules. Explain how this polarity results in
the formation of hydrogen bonds between water molecules.
23. Summarize the important characteristics of water.
24. Describe the pH scale. What does it measure?
25. Which is more acidic, a solution with a pH of 4 or a solution with a pH of 6. Explain your
answer.
26. Is enzyme function affected by pH? Explain your answer.
27. Describe why water is essential for most biochemical reactions.
Chapter 2 Definitions: After completing the Chapter 2 readings, you should be able
to use and understand the following terms:
Amino acid
Carbohydrate
Chemical bond
Chemical reaction
Complementary base pair
Compound
DNA
Double helix
Element
Lipid
Matter
Nucleic acid
Nucleotide
Organic compound
Polypeptide
Protein
RNA
Saturated fatty acid
Unsaturated fatty acid
Activation energy
Anabolic reaction
Biochemical reaction
Catabolic reaction
Endothermic reaction
Exothermic reaction
Enzyme
Metabolism
Product
Reactant
Acid
Base
Hydrogen bond
pH scale
Polarity
Solution