Glossary of Terms for
The Chemical Compounds of Life

Adhesion- The attraction of two molecules of different substances.

Amino Acids- molecular units that make up proteins.

Antibodies- a protein which protects against disease.

Capillary Action- The upward movement of a liquid in a tube of narrow diameter.

Carbohydrates - inorganic compound containing carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in a 2:1 ratio. very important in cellular respiration.

Carboxyl Group - 1 carbon atom double bonded to one oxygen atom and a hydroxyl group. It is also an organic compound.

Catalyst- is a substance that brings about a reaction without being changed itself.

Cholesterol - an essential body compound but can buildup and harden in the arteries.

Cohesion- The force of attraction between two molecules of the same substance.

Dehydration Synthesis - putting molecules together by removing water

Disaccharide - a molecule formed by joining two simple sugars (monosaccharides).

DNA- (deoxyribonucleic acid). a long chain of repeating units that store information about your physical and mental traits.

Enzymes- protein substances that are necessary for most of the chemical reactions that occur in living cells.

Fatty Acid - an organic molecule made of a carboxyl group and a carbon chain with hydrogen molecules attached.

Hormones- chemical messengers that control the body functions. 

Hydrolysis - breaking apart a covalent bond by adding water.

Inorganic Compound- Any type of compound that is not organic; usually do not contain carbon.

Lipase- enzyme that breaks down lipids in the human body.

Lipids - similar to carbohydrates in composition but contain less oxygen. Formed when 3 fatty acids join with a molecule of glycerol.

Monosaccharide - a simple sugar.

Organic Compound- Compounds that contain carbon and usually hydrogen; most occur naturally only in the bodies and products of organisms.

Polar Molecule- A molecule with regions of partial negative, and partial positive charges.

Polymer - molecules consisting of chains of repeating units.

Polysaccharide - more than 2 simple sugars bonded together by dehydration synthesis.

Proteases- enzyme that breaks down proteins in the human body.

Proteins- Proteins are made up of amino acids, which are the building blocks of life.

RNA- (ribonucleic acid) a polymer found in the cell which is used to make proteins

Saturated Fat - a lipid in which all carbon to carbon bonds are single bonds, thus meaning the fat contains as many hydrogen atoms as possible

Starch - A polysaccharide used to store sugar.

Substrate- is the substance that a enzyme acts on in a reaction.

Unsaturated fat - one or  more of the bonds between carbon atoms is a double or triple bond meaning the fat contains less hydrogen atoms.