AP Biology
Chemistry of Life Subunits & Objectives
water
* explain polarity and hydrogen bonding as it relates to the properties of water
* describe four properties of water that are important to life
* show why water makes a good solvent
* explain the concept of pH and how this affects organisms
* define buffer and give one example from a living system
* explain the concepts of diffusion and osmosis
organic molecules
* describe the atomic structure of carbon and explain why it is considered the backbone of life
* list the name, structure and function of the seven chemical groups that are key to functioning biomolecules.
* describe the structure, function, and building blocks of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids
* detail the four levels of protein structure and describe the chemical bonds involved
* describe the history of our knowledge of DNA & RNA structure
enzymes
* describe how activation energy is involved in chemical reactions
* explain what an enzyme is and how it works
* list four different ways an enzyme can lower activation energy
* relate substrate specificity to enzyme action
* describe factors that can affect the activity of enzymes
* explain how allosteric regulation controls enzyme activity
thermodynamics [PUT WITH CELLULAR ENERGETICS UNIT]
* explain the concept of metabolism
* describe the various forms of energy and how these relate to organisms
* explain the laws of energy transformation
* relate the concepts of free energy, enthalpy, and entropy
* compare and contrast endergonic and exergonic reactions
* list the three types of work a cell can perform
* describe the structure of ATP, its regeneration and how it performs work
AP Biology
Chemistry of Life Subunits & Key Terms: define each using complete sentences.
water
polarityhydrogen bondcohesion
adhesionsurface tensionspecific heat
temperatureheatcalorie
joulekcal (Calorie)evaporation
heat of vaporizationsolutesolution
aqueoushydrophilichydrophobic
molarityhydrogen ionhydroxide ion
acidbaseneutral solution
pH buffer
organic molecules
organic chemistrymajor elements of lifehydrocarbons
carbon skeleton variationisomers (& examples)functional groups
covalent bonddouble bond
enzymes
catalystactivation energytransition state
substrateenzyme-substrate complexactive site
induced fitdenaturedcofactors
coenzymecompetitive inhibitorsnoncompetitive inhibitors
allosteric regulationfeedback inhibition
thermodynamics
kinetic energypotential energymetabolism
metabolic pathwaycatabolic pathwaysanabolic pathways
thermal energychemical energyentropy
spontaneous processnonspontaneous processsystem
surroundingsfree energyenthalpy
equilibriumexergonicendergonic
energy couplingATPhydrolysis
phosphorylated