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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 was last modified on Wed, 29 May 2024 22:08:57 GMT and 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.