BASIC CHEMISTRY FOR BIOLOGY

Before getting too deeply into molecular biology, you should revise (or learn?) some basic ideas and
concepts in chemistry. Get ready for a test on this essential chemistry!

ATOMS v ELEMENTS v MOLECULES v COMPOUNDS

What are they? Some definitions.

ATOMIC STRUCTURE
Atoms containing: neutrons
protons
electrons
Atomic structure and sub-atomic charges (protons +ve; electrons –ve)

PERIODIC TABLE NOTATION

Atomic number
Atomic mass

IONS
Cations & anions
What makes an atom or compound molecule become an ion?
Some common examples of ions in molecular biology

ISOTOPES
12
C and 14C
What is radioactivity

BONDING
The more important bonding types in molecular biology:
• Ionic
• Covalent
• Hydrogen
• (sulphur)
• Van der Waal forces

MOLECULES
Why/how do molecules form?
INORGANIC v ORGANIC molecules.
Macromolecules and POLYMERS
Polarity in molecules

REACTIONS
HYDROLYSIS reactions & CONDENSATION reactions
ANABOLIC & CATABOLIC reactions = METABOLISM
EXOTHERMIC & ENDOTHERMIC reactions

ACIDS/BASES, pH and BUFFERS

What is pH?
Why is maintaining pH so important biologically?
What is a buffer?
 Some important biological buffers.

FORMULAE in CHEMISTRY
EMPIRICAL formula
CHEMICAL formula
STRUCTURAL formula

(CATALYSTS &) ENZYMES

What is an enzyme?
Reaction energy
Activation energy
Again – exothermic & endothermic reactions
Lock and key hypothesis for enzyme function
Induced fit hypothesis for enzyme function