2.1.2 biological molecules Flashcards
Name four macro molecules
Proteins, fats, water, carbohydrates
Name the components of the macro molecules
protein: made up of amino acids
fat: made from glycerol and fatty acids
water: contains hydrogen and oxygen only
Carbohydrate: simple sugars to complex polysaccharides
Name the function of the four macro molecules
Protein: Used to make enzymes, hormones and structural components such as muscle
fat: energy source and storage, installation, buoyancy and protection
water: components of tissues, medium for chemical reactions and transport medium
carbohydrate: Source of energy and structural uses
Define a condensation reaction
Two molecules join together. A water molecule is removed during the reaction
Define a hydrolysis reaction
A molecule is split into two molecules. Water is needed for the reaction to occur
Define a monomer
A small molecule that can be bound to other identical monomers by condensation
Describe a polymer
A large molecule, made from many monomers
What are the bonding rules
bonding can be determined by the number of electrons in the outer orbital.
Carbon atoms can form 4 bonds with other atoms
nitrogen atoms form 3 bonds
oxygen forms 2 bonds
Hydrogen forms 1 bond
Name the monomer and polymer of a carbohydrate
monomer: monosaccharide
Polymer: polysaccharide
Name the monomer and polymer of a protein
monomer: amino acids
Polymer: polypeptides and proteins
Name the monomer and polymer of nucleic acids
monomer: nucleotides
Polymer: DNA and RNA
Name the monomer and polymer of fats
monomer : fatty acids and glycerol
Polymer: triglycerides
Why is water described as a polar molecule
water is described as polar as it has an unequal distribution of charge in the molecule. Oxygen is slightly negative (delta negative) and hydrogens are slightly positive (delta positive)
How do hydrogen bonds form between water molecules
water is polar: oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, so attracts electron density in covalent bonds more strongly.
There are intermolecular forces of attraction between a lone pair of oxygen Delta negative of one molecule and hydrogen Delta positive on an adjacent molecule
State some biologically important properties of water
it has a high surface tension which enables organisms to walk on water
it has a high specific heat capacity: because of the high amount of hydrogen bonds, it means that it can absorb a lot of heat and provides relatively constant temperatures
universal solvent: it can dissolve many ionic and polar substances which enables many biochemical reactions to take place in the cell cytoplasm and it enables substances to be transported
it provides a habitat
it transports into and around cells in the blood, xylem, lymph fluid
it is a liquid at room temperature which allows the transport, habitat and is a medium for reactions
it has a high latent heat of vaporisation and is a coolant because heat energy is needed to break the hydrogen bonds when the water evaporates
it is dense so ice floats, has an insulating layer
cohesion between molecules
Define cohesion
Attraction to other water molecules
Define adhesion
Attraction to other polar substances
Why is the incompressible nature of water important for organisms
It provides turgidity to plant cells and provides Hydro static skeleton for some small animals like earthworms
Explain why ice floats on water. And why is this important for organisms
Ice is less dense than water because hydrogen bonds holding molecules in fixed positions further away from each other. It insulates water in Arctic climates so aquatic organisms can survive and water acts as a habitat
Why is the high surface tension of water important for organisms
It slows water loss due to transpiration in plants. Water rises unusually high in narrow tubes, lowering demand on route pressure.
And some insects can skim across the surface of water
Why is water an important solvent for organisms
polar universal solvent dissolves and transports charged particles involved in intra and extracellular reactions
Why are the high specific heat capacity and latent of vaporisation water important for organisms
Acts as a temperature buffer which enables endotherm is to resist fluctuations in core temperature, to maintain optimum enzyme activity. Cooling affect when water evaporates from skin surface as sweat/from mouth when panting
Name the elements found in carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids
carbohydrates and lipids: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen ( CHO)
proteins: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur ( CHONS)
nucleic acids: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus ( CHONP)
carbohydrates: Draw the structure of alpha glucose and beta glucose
they are both hexose monosaccharides with a ring structure
carbohydrates: State the three carbohydrates and the example molecules
monosaccharide are small, simple sugars e.g. glucose, fructose and ribose
disaccharides are large sugars e.g. lactose and sucrose
Polysaccharides are long chain carbohydrates e.g. glycogen, Celulose and starch
carbohydrates: describe glucose
glucose is an abundant and very important monosaccharide. It contains six carbon atoms so it is a hexose sugar and its general formula is C6 H12 O6
Glucose is the major energy source for most cells. It is highly soluble and is the main form in which carbohydrates are transported around the body of animals
carbohydrates: How do we make disaccharides and polysaccharides
Condensation reaction
carbohydrates: Describe pentose monosaccharides
They contain five carbon atoms. Two important pentose molecules are the structural isomers ribose and deoxyribose. The only difference between them is that ribose has one hydrogen atom and 1 OH group attached to carbon 2, whereas deoxyribose has two H atoms and no OH group
carbohydrates: How is maltose formed (disaccharide)
Glucose + glucose = maltose
carbohydrates: How is sucrose formed (disaccharide)
glucose + fructose
carbohydrates: How is lactose formed (disaccharide)
glucose + galactose = lactose
carbohydrates: What are polysaccharides
Polysaccharides are polymers containing many monosaccharides linked bike like acidic bonds. Like disaccharides, polysaccharides are formed by condensation reactions
The major polysaccharides are starch and cellulose in plants and glycogen in animals
carbohydrates:
What type of bond forms when monosaccharides react
(1,4 or 1,6) glycosidic bonds
two monomers= one chemical bond = disaccharide
multiple monomers = many chemical bonds = polysaccharides
carbohydrates: do you find it in humans or plants
(I) amylose
(II) amylopectin
(III) glycogen
(I) amylose = Plants
(II) amylopectin =Plants
(III) glycogen =Animals
carbohydrates: Where in the organism is it stored
(I) amylose
(II) amylopectin
(III) glycogen
(I) amylose= Grains in the chloroplasts
(II) amylopectin =Grains in the chloroplasts
(III) glycogen =Liver and muscles
carbohydrates: Is it a form of starch
(I) amylose
(II) amylopectin
(III) glycogen
(I) amylose = Alpha glucose
(II) amylopectin = Alpha Glucose
(III) glycogen = Alpha Glucose
carbohydrates: Is it branched
(I) amylose
(II) amylopectin
(III) glycogen
(I) amylose = No it is straight
(II) amylopectin = Yes
(III) glycogen = Yes loads of branches
carbohydrates: Is it soluble
(I) amylose
(II) amylopectin
(III) glycogen
(I) amylose = No
(II) amylopectin = No
(III) glycogen = Yes
carbohydrates: Which glycosidic bonds does it have
(I) amylose
(II) amylopectin
(III) glycogen
(I) amylose = 1,4
(II) amylopectin 1,4 and 1,6
(III) glycogen 1,4 and 1,6
carbohydrates: are they spiralled
(I) amylose
(II) amylopectin
(III) glycogen
(I) amylose = Yes
(II) amylopectin =No
(III) glycogen = No
carbohydrates: Are hydrogen bonds important in holding the structure in place
(I) amylose
(II) amylopectin
(III) glycogen
(I) amylose = Yes
(II) amylopectin = no
(III) glycogen = no