Unit 2 Reflection

Unit 2 was was Miniature Biology. This is because it focused on the smaller parts of life. It focused on macromolecules, molecules, compounds, elements, atoms, and subatomic particles. We learned about three of the four types of bonds. The Ionic Bonds forms when an atom gains or looses and electron. The Covalent Bond forms when electrons are shared between atoms. Lastly, there is the Hydrogen Bonds. These bonds are not as strong as the other bonds, but it holds molecules together due to the slight attraction of positive to negative charged regions. Next, we focused on water and polarity. We learned that water is wet because of its polarity, and capillary action. Polarity is the unequal distribution of charge between Hydrogen and Oxygen. Capillary Action is when cohesion and adhesion work together and causes water to rise up vs. the force of gravity. pH is a measurement of H+ ions in a solution. H+ is a hydrogen ion. Acids, ph less than 7, tastes sour, is corrosive to metals, become less acidic when mixed with bases, and is also attracted to bases.
Bases on the other hand, have ph level more than 7, taste bitter, feel slippery, and become less basic when mixed with acids. As with acids attracted to bases, the bases are attracted to acids.

Next, we talked about the 4 macromolecules, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Carbohydrates are sugars, or saccharides. They have rings with the structure of C (carbon) H (hydrogen) and O (oxygen). There are 3 types of carbs: monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides. Monosaccharides have only one ring of structure. The disaccharides have 2 rings, while the polysaccharides have 3+ rings. Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for living organisms like us who consume carbohydrates.

Lipids are large molecules that include fats, phospholipids, oils, waxes, and cholesterol. They have the structure that contain long chains of carbon and hydrogen called fatty acid. Most lipids are nonpolar, or uncharged. Many lipids also have a hydropholic, water loving, head that faces outwards and a hydrophobic, water fearing, tail that faces inwards. Lipids are used as energy storage, and break bonds between carbon and hydrogen to get energy when glucose is running low. They also make up the cell membrane and are used to make hormones. There are saturated fats, bad for you, and unsaturated fats, good for you.

Proteins are large molecules made up of smaller molecules called amino acids, that are chained together. We make the protein we use in our body by eating proteins, and then the body breaks down the protein into amino acids. Amino acids are then recycled into new proteins. Proteins support the body, help cells communicate, let things pass through the cell membrane, and speed up chemical reactions. The 4 types of proteins are hemoglobin, collagen, muscle proteins, and kerratin. Enzymes make chemical reactions happen. They either break molecules apart or they put them together. The substrate is what the enzyme works on, while the active sight is where the substrate attaches to the enzyme. The product is what the enzyme produces.

Nucleic acids, the last of the 4 macromolecules, are large molecules composed of up to thousands of repeating nucleotides. Nucleotides are made up of a sugar, a phosphate, and a nitrogen molecule.
DNA and RNA are nucleic acids, and DNA has two strands while RNA has only one strand. Nucleic acids are the sources of information passed from generation to generation.

Enzymes are made up of 4 structures: primary structure, secondary structure, tertiary structure, and quaternary structure. pH and temperature are the two factors that affect enzymes. Denaturation is when an enzyme or a protein unwinds and loses its ability to work. Simple denaturation is the denaturation of the tertiary and quaternary structures while completely denatured is when the primary structure is denatured.

In this unit, I learned a lot about the smaller parts of our body. I knew organisms were made of atoms, and molecules, but I thought we only used the macromolecules as energy and they had no real body effects. I learned about how the macromolecules are important to the body and how they are apart of all of our body. I also learned about how water sticks to itself and how it can go against gravity. Before this, I did not realize water sticking together as droplets. I just noticed it. I did not think about it until now. One thing I would like to continue to learn about is water. I would like to learn more about its properties, and how it can be changed. I would also like to learn more about polar and nonpolar liquids.