1A - Biological Molecules Flashcards
What is a polymer
A large molecule composed of many monomers
What is a condensation reaction
A reaction in which a chemical bond is formed between two molecules and water is released
What is the reaction that breaks polymers and what happens?
Hydrolysis: Water is used to break the bond formed by a condensation reaction forming two monomers
Example of two monomers
amino acids
glucose
What does a nucleic acid look like?
Pentose sugar bonded to a base and a phosphate
What is a carbohydrate?
Substance only containing the elements hydrogen, carbon and oxygen
What is a glycosidic bond?
A bond formed between two monosaccharaides
What to two monosaccharides form?
A disaccharide
Example of a polysaccharide?
Starch
Describe a test to find out if a substance contains non-reducing sugars.
Benedicts
Add sample to test tube and add Benedicts reagent. Heat solution for a couple of minutes. If colour doesn’t change from blue then non-reducing sugars are present. Then heat a new sample with dilute HCl and add sodium hydrogen carbonate. If the sample stays blue then there are no reducing or non-reducing sugars present
Structure of starch
Polysaccharide Long chains of alpha glucose(Amylose, amylopectin) Coiled chain Compact structure Hydrogen bonds make it insoluble
Structure of cellulose
Long unbranched chains of beta glucose
Each monomer is rotated 180 degrees in relation to each other.
Chains run straight and parallel to each other
Hydrogen bonds between chains creating microfibrils
Structure of glycogen
Similar to starch but is more branched and has shorter chains.
Alpha glucose
Compact
Structure of triglyceride
3 fatty acids attached to glycerol back bone
Ester bond between fatty acids and glycerol
Triglycerides are insoluble.
T/F?
True
What is a saturated lipid
One that has no double carbon bonds
Structure of a phospholipid
Similar to triglyceride but one fatty acid is replaced by a phosphate group
What is the primary structure of proteins
The chain/sequence of amino acids
What is the secondary structure of proteins
Spiralled primary structure or pleated sheets held by hydrogen bonds
Tertiary structure of proteins
3D shape held by ionic bonds and disulphide bridges and hydrogen bonds
Quaternary structure
More than one tertiary structure chain
Describe a test to test for the presence of proteins
Buirete test
- Make solution alkaline by adding sodium hydroxide solution
- Add copper(ii) sulphate solution
- If proteins are present then the sample will turn purple if not will remain blue
What is an enzyme?
A biological catalyst which speed up a reaction without being used up in the reaction.
What is activation energy?
The energy required to start a reaction