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Biology LibreTexts

4.4: Key Terms

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biological macromolecule
large molecule necessary for life that is built from smaller organic molecules
dehydration synthesis
(also, condensation) reaction that links monomer molecules, releasing a water molecule for each bond formed
enantiomers
molecules that share overall structure and bonding patterns, but differ in how the atoms are three dimensionally placed such that they are mirror images of each other
enzyme
catalyst in a biochemical reaction that is usually a complex or conjugated protein
functional group
group of atoms that provides or imparts a specific function to a carbon skeleton
geometric isomer
isomer with similar bonding patterns differing in the placement of atoms alongside a double covalent bond
hydrocarbon
molecule that consists only of carbon and hydrogen
hydrolysis
reaction that causes breakdown of larger molecules into smaller molecules by utilizing water
isomers
molecules that differ from one another even though they share the same chemical formula
monomer
smallest unit of larger molecules that are polymers
organic molecule
any molecule containing carbon (except carbon dioxide)
polymer
chain of monomer residues that covalent bonds link; polymerization is the process of polymer formation from monomers by condensation
structural isomers
molecules that share a chemical formula but differ in the placement of their chemical bonds
substituted hydrocarbon
hydrocarbon chain or ring containing an atom of another element in place of one of the backbone carbons
valence shell
outermost shell of an atom

This page titled 4.4: Key Terms is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by OpenStax via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

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