Atoms are the basic structural units of matter, and the subatomic particles that constitute atoms—namely, protons, neutrons, and electrons—interact with each other in several ways.
Things to note:
• Protons have a charge of +1,
• Neutrons have a charge of 0, and
• Electrons have a charge of -1.
Gained or lost electrons result in the formation of charged particles; changing the number of neutrons results in different versions of atoms, called isotopes. All radioactive compounds are isotopes.
And of course, we cannot forget about the beloved bonds! Unfortunately for us, these bonds don't come with any voluptuous vixen co-stars.
Ionic bonds are the bonds formed between oppositely charged ions, whereas covalent bondsform when electrons are shared between electrically neutral atoms.
Not everyone is equally good at sharing, even at the atomic level, and the consequence of this universal truth is that many molecules have uneven distributions of electrons. We call these polar molecules, and they have profound implications for much of the biology you will learn about in a short while.
Hydrogen bonds form between oppositely charged portions of polar molecules. Water (good ol' H-2-to-the-O) is highly polar and forms hydrogen bonds, and these traits are part of what makes water unique and important to life. Oh…did we mention how really, super important water is to life? No? Our bad.
These atomic building blocks and the interactions among them are responsible for all the biological molecules that constitute life forms. Biological molecules come in many varieties, but can be grouped into:
Lipids are the masters of energy storage, and some have important structural roles or serve as hormones, among other things. You may be most familiar with lipids as fat, but every one of the cells in your body has a membrane, or layer, of lipids that protects it from its environment. So don't diss lipids too much. They do not solely strive to pack pounds onto that gorgeous frame of yours.
Proteins can do just about anything: structure, communication, defense, transport… Do not put anything past them. They’ll even write that book report for you! We kid, we kid...sort of. Proteins dohelp your neurons fire and allow the muscles in your hand to move while you write that brilliant masterpiece on Catcher in the Rye.
Nucleic acids, like DNA and RNA, provide the blueprint for life. They are the design architects of your body, so to speak. They store Life’s little instruction book and pass it from generation to generation.
Things to note:
• Protons have a charge of +1,
• Neutrons have a charge of 0, and
• Electrons have a charge of -1.
Gained or lost electrons result in the formation of charged particles; changing the number of neutrons results in different versions of atoms, called isotopes. All radioactive compounds are isotopes.
And of course, we cannot forget about the beloved bonds! Unfortunately for us, these bonds don't come with any voluptuous vixen co-stars.
Ionic bonds are the bonds formed between oppositely charged ions, whereas covalent bondsform when electrons are shared between electrically neutral atoms.
Not everyone is equally good at sharing, even at the atomic level, and the consequence of this universal truth is that many molecules have uneven distributions of electrons. We call these polar molecules, and they have profound implications for much of the biology you will learn about in a short while.
Hydrogen bonds form between oppositely charged portions of polar molecules. Water (good ol' H-2-to-the-O) is highly polar and forms hydrogen bonds, and these traits are part of what makes water unique and important to life. Oh…did we mention how really, super important water is to life? No? Our bad.
These atomic building blocks and the interactions among them are responsible for all the biological molecules that constitute life forms. Biological molecules come in many varieties, but can be grouped into:
- Carbohydrates
- Lipids
- Proteins
- Nucleic acids
Lipids are the masters of energy storage, and some have important structural roles or serve as hormones, among other things. You may be most familiar with lipids as fat, but every one of the cells in your body has a membrane, or layer, of lipids that protects it from its environment. So don't diss lipids too much. They do not solely strive to pack pounds onto that gorgeous frame of yours.
Proteins can do just about anything: structure, communication, defense, transport… Do not put anything past them. They’ll even write that book report for you! We kid, we kid...sort of. Proteins dohelp your neurons fire and allow the muscles in your hand to move while you write that brilliant masterpiece on Catcher in the Rye.
Nucleic acids, like DNA and RNA, provide the blueprint for life. They are the design architects of your body, so to speak. They store Life’s little instruction book and pass it from generation to generation.