Chapter 2
Chemistry of Life Study Guide
1. Chemical reactions that absorb more energy than they release are called ___________________________.
2. The first carbon compounds that scientists studied are called ______________ compounds because they came
from living organisms. (This word means it contains “carbon”)
3. DNA and RNA are two types of ______________________. (type of macromolecule)
4.
What is the process that changes one set of chemicals into another set of chemicals?
5. When salt is dissolved in water, water is the ______________________.
6. Enzymes affect chemical reactions in living organisms by _________________ the activation energy of a reaction.
7. What atoms make up a molecule of water? How many hydrogen and oxygen?
8. The three particles that make up an atom are called protons, ___________________, and ________________.
9. What type of ion forms when an atom loses electrons? (positive/negative)
10. What are the four main groups of carbon-based molecules (macromolecules)?
11. The activation energy needed for a chemical reaction is decreased by a ____________________. (another name
for an enzyme)
12. ________________________ is a term that describes a substance formed by the combination of two or more
elements in a definite proportion.
13. The most abundant compound in most living things is _____________________.
14. What category of carbon-based molecules (macromolecules) includes sugars and starches?
15. Fats, oils, and cholesterol are all types of _________________________.
16. Identify the reactants in the following chemical equation:
6 H2O + 6 CO2  C6H12O6 + 6O2
17. Chemical reactions change substances into different substances by _______________________ and chemical
bonds.
18. A very strong based might have a pH of _______________.
19. The effect of a catalyst on a chemical reaction _______________________ the activation energy.
(increase/decrease)
20. When hydrogen and oxygen combine to form water, water is the (product/reactant).
21. __________________ are the smallest basic units of matter.
22. The attraction among molecules of different substances is called (example: water sticking to other substances)
__________________________.
23. ______________________________________ is the term for the amount of energy that needs to be added for a
chemical reaction to start.
24. This type of macromolecule, __________________________, is the main source of energy for living things.
25. _____________________ are the basic building blocks of proteins (monomer).
26. A monosaccharide is the monomer of _______________________.
27. True of False. Proteins store and transmit hereditary information.
28. A substance with a pH of 6 is called _________________________.
29. A covalent bond is formed as the result of ___________________________.
30. A ______________________ is a single unit (1 brick), while a _________________ is many units attached
together (more than one brick).
31. Cell membranes are made up of _________________________________.
32. The place where the enzyme and the substrate react together is called _________________________.
33. _____________________ are macromolecules that are important in muscle contraction and transporting oxygen in
the blood.
34. ____________________ are macromolecules that store genetic information in cells.
35. ____________________ are commonly called fats and oils and is a major component of cell membranes.
36. Glucose, sucrose, starch, and cellulose are examples of ______________________________.
37. ____________________ are catalytic molecules that help speed up reactions.