Elements of Life – AP Biology Flashcard

Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur.

Carbon forms the backbone of organic molecules like carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Carbon can form four covalent bonds, allowing it to create complex molecular structures.

Hydrogen is essential in water, energy production, and is part of many organic compounds.

Hydrogen helps form ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy currency of the cell.

Oxygen acts as the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain, driving ATP production.

Oxygen is vital for aerobic respiration, and is part of water and many biomolecules.

Nitrogen is a key component of amino acids, which form proteins essential for cell function.

Nitrogen is found in nucleotides, which form DNA and RNA, the carriers of genetic information.

Phosphorus is part of ATP, which stores and releases energy for cellular processes.

Phosphorus forms part of the backbone of DNA and RNA, linking nucleotides together.

Sulfur is present in certain amino acids like cysteine, forming disulfide bonds that stabilize proteins.

Sulfur helps in detoxifying harmful substances in the body.

Oxygen participates in oxidative reactions that break down nutrients and release energy.

Nitrogen plays a crucial role in the nitrogen cycle, converting atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms.

Phosphorus is part of phospholipids, which form the cell membrane bilayer.

Sulfur is a component of vitamins like biotin and thiamine, which are involved in metabolism.

Phosphorus, in the form of calcium phosphate, helps in the formation of bones and teeth.

Carbon-containing molecules like carbohydrates and fats store energy for cellular processes.

Hydrogen forms hydrogen bonds, increasing the solubility of molecules in water.

Nitrogen fixation is the process where nitrogen gas is converted into a form usable by plants and organisms.

Sulfur is needed for amino acids, vitamins, and coenzymes in plants, aiding in metabolism and growth.

Phosphorus is necessary for the process of gene transcription, allowing genetic information to be read.

Nucleotides are the building blocks of DNA and RNA, containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and sugar molecules.

Amino acids, which contain nitrogen and sulfur, are the building blocks of proteins that support cell structure and function.