Chapter 2 | The Chemical Foundation of Life
- What makes ionic bonds different from covalent bonds?
- Why are hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions necessary for cells?
- Discuss how buffers help prevent drastic swings in pH.
- Why can some insects walk on water?
- What property of carbon makes it essential for organic life?
- Compare and contrast saturated and unsaturated triglycerides.
- Why are biological macromolecules considered organic?
- What role do electrons play in dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis?
- Describe the similarities and differences between glycogen and starch.
- Why is it impossible for humans to digest food that contains cellulose?
- Explain at least three functions that lipids serve in plants and/or animals.
- Why have trans fats been banned from some restaurants? How are they created?
- Explain what happens if even one amino acid is substituted for another in a polypeptide chain. Provide a specific example.
- Describe the differences in the four protein structures.
- What are the structural differences between RNA and DNA?
- What are the four types of RNA and how do they function?
