AP Biology Unit 1 review covers the foundational chemistry concepts essential to understanding life. It includes the chemistry and properties of water, hydrogen bonding, the elements of life, functional groups, monomers and polymers, and the four major biomolecule families: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA).
Key Topics in AP Bio Unit 1 Review
- Water and Hydrogen Bonding : Understanding water as a polar molecule with partial positive and negative charges, hydrogen bonding between water molecules, and how these properties support life (cohesion, adhesion, surface tension, solvent abilities).
- Elements of Life : Common elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and their importance in biological molecules.
- Monomers and Polymers : How small building blocks (monomers) form large biological macromolecules (polymers) through processes like dehydration synthesis.
- Functional Groups : Important chemical groups like hydroxyl, carboxyl, amino, phosphate that contribute to molecule functions.
- Macromolecule Families :
- Carbohydrates : Structure and functions as energy sources and structural materials.
* **Lipids** : Characteristics, including fats, phospholipids, and steroids.
* **Proteins** : Amino acid structures and protein levels (primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary).
* **Nucleic Acids** : Structure of nucleotides, DNA and RNA, and their directionality.
These topics form the chemical basis of biology and prepare students for deeper units in AP Biology. If desired, there are detailed video review lessons, study guides, and practice questions available from various educational resources for this unit.
