1. BIOCHEMISTRY VOCABULARY UNIT 2

2. 1.Lipid- Organic compound used for long term energy storage and makes up cell membranes. Contains carbon and hydrogen (fat, oil, wax).

3. 2.Atom- The smallest unit of an element.

4. 3.Element- Basic building block of physical matter. Cannot be broken down into a simpler structure..

5. 4.pH Scale- The scale that is used to identify acids and bases (ranges from 0-14), acids are below 7, bases are above 7, neutral is equal to 7.

6. 5.Protein- Organic compound used for growth and repair and includes the enzyme group. Contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen.

7. 6.Polymer- A substance made of “many parts.”

8. 7.Organic Compound- Grouping of elements that always include carbon. Essential to life’s cellular processes.

9. 8.Compound- A chemical substance composed of two or more atoms of elements. -

10. 9.Carbohydrate- Organic compound that is the quickest energy source for life. Contains carbon, hydrogen and oxygen (sugars and starches).

11. 10.Molecule- The smallest unit of a compound.

12. 11.Enzyme- A type of protein that breaks compounds down and speeds up reactions.

13. 12.Hemoglobin- Protein in red blood cells containing iron; is responsible for circulating oxygen in the blood stream.

14. 13.Substrate- The molecule to which an enzyme binds and acts upon (puzzle pieces).

15. 14.Insulin- Protein hormone released by the pancreas in response to blood glucose levels.

16. 15.Nucleic Acid- Organic compounds also known as DNA and RNA that code for all genetic information essential for life. Contains hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus.

17. 16.Amino Acid- Monomer of a protein, includes a variable side chain which makes each one unique.

18. 17.Active Site- Site on an enzyme that binds to the substrate and triggers a chemical reaction, also determines the type of substrate to be acted upon.

19. 18.Nucleotide- Monomer of a nucleic acid, composed of a 5-Carbon sugar, phosphate group and a nitrogenous base.

20. 19.Activation Energy- The necessary energy to start a chemical reaction.

21. 20.Cellulose- Rigid carbohydrate that is found in the cell wall of plant cells.