1.3 Intro To Macromolecules

Question 1

What does variation in carbon skeletons allow for?

Answer 1

Molecular diversity

Question 2

Carbon can form what type of large molecules?

Answer 2

Macromolecules

Question 3

What are four classes of macromolecules (molecules made up of smaller subunits)

Answer 3

• carbohydrates
• proteins
• nucleic acids
• lipids

Question 4

Which elements aside from carbon are also important for building macromolecules? (2)

Answer 4

• nitrogen is important for building proteins and nucleic acids (think ATGC/U)
• phosphorus is important for building nucleic acids and some energy molecules (ATP)

Question 5

What are polymers? (2)

Answer 5

• chains like macromolecules of similar or identical repeating units
• they are covalently bonded together

Question 6

What are monomers?

Answer 6

• the repeating units that make up polymers

Question 7

What is a dehydration reaction, and what occurs?

Answer 7

• bonds two monomers with the loss of water
• the hydroxyl group of one monomer bonds to the hydrogen of another monomer, forming water, which is then released
  A+B-> AB + H2O

Question 8

what is hydrolysis, and what happens?

Answer 8

• breaks the bonds in a polymer by adding water
• one hydrogen of the water bonds to one monomer, and the remaining hydroxyl of water attaches to the other monomer
  AB + H2O -> A+B