Study Guide – Core Concepts, Cells,
Energy, Genetics & Biological Systems
(Complete Review 2026)
any substance that takes up space and has mass is called _____
matter
an ______ is a substance that has specific chemical and physical properties
element
an _____ is the smallest unit of matter that still retains all the chemical properties
of an element
atom
can an atom break-down into something smaller, while still retaining the
properties of the original element?
no
molecules result whenever _____ atoms join together
2 or more
_____ are molecules that contain more than one element
compounds
(ex: H2O is a molecule/compound)
what are the strong attractive forces that hold atoms within a molecule?
intramolecular forces
which type of force exists between molecules?
intermolecular forces
which type of force (intra-/intermolecular) determines physical properties?
intermolecular
_____ are molecules that have the potential of bonding to other identical
molecules through chemical reactions
monomers
_____ is the process when monomers bond together, and it forms _____
polymerization; polymers
_____ are substances that have a large # of monomers bonded together
polymers
what are the 3 varieties of carbohydrates?
monosaccharides; disaccharides; polysaccharides
monosaccharides have a ratio of precisely _____ _____ per water molecule, and
they have the empirical formula _____
1 carbon; (CH2O)n
ribose is a _____ sugar (monosaccharide)
pentose (five carbon)
, glucose and fructose are _____ sugars (monosaccharides)
hexose (six carbon)
glucose and fructose are _____ of each other
isomers
what type of carbohydrate results when 2 monosaccharide monomers bond/join
together?
disaccharide
monosaccharide monomers join together via what type of reaction?
dehydration/condensation reactions
what type of bond is formed and what is released in a dehydration/condensation
reaction?
covalent bond formation; release of H2O
what is the opposite of a condensation/dehydration reaction - why?
A hydrolysis reaction; adds H2O to a covalent bond and splits monomers apart
what is the name of the bond that forms when a carbohydrate attaches to another
molecule?
glycosidic
which disaccharide contains 1 glucose and 1 fructose?
sucrose (table sugar)
which disaccharide contains 1 galactose and 1 glucose?
lactose
which disaccharide contains 2 glucoses linked together?
maltose
polysaccharides are long polymers of _____
monosaccharides
_____ may or may not have branching
polysaccharides
some polysaccharides are for _____, and others are for _____.
storage, structure
_____ is a crucial storage polysaccharide in plants
starch
starch contains many _____ monomers in linear forms as well as branched forms
glucose
linear plant starch is called _____
amylose
what is amylopectin?
branched form of plant starch
_____ is a storage polysaccharide found in humans
glycogen
glycogen contains many _____ monomers
glucose
is amylopectin or glycogen more branched?
glycogen
what type of bonds does glycogen have?