Chapter 1 Introduction to Biochemistry

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A. Levels of organization

atoms

 

molecules and ions

}focus of this course

polymers

}focus of this course

organelles

)focus of this course

cells

 

tissue/organs

 

organism

 

B. Recurring themes:

bonding and non bonding interactions

acid-base concepts

oxidation and reduction

thermodynamics

kinetics

C. Background information:

atoms/atomic configuration (see lecture supplement 1A)

hybridization (see lecture supplement 1B)

sp

linear

sp2

flat

sp3

tetrahedral*

molecular orbitals/bonding (see lecture supplement 1C)

how are bonds formed?

what types of bonds form?

p bonds

s bonds

D. SI units

 

length

m

mega

M

106

 

mass

kg

kilo

k

103

 

energy

J

milli

m

10-3

 

time

s

micro

m

10-6

 

temp

K

nano

n

10-9

 

electrical potential

V

pico

p

10-12

 

 

 

femto

f

10-15