B1.1 Flashcards
Outline the number and type of bonds carbon can form with other atoms.
carbon can form 4 co valent bonds with other atoms
Outline the cause and consequence of covalent bonds between atoms
Because carbon have 4 electrons on their outer shell it allows them to form 4 covalent bonds, because of these covalent bonds it makes these bonds the most stable bond
Name common functional groups
hydroxyl
Carboxyl
Ester
List the four major classes of carbon compounds used by living organisms
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins
Nucleic Acids
List example molecules with branched chain, unbranched chain, single ring or multiple rings
Branched Chain : Triglycerides
Unbranched Chain : Fatty Acids
Single Rings : Glucose
Multiple Rings : Cholesterol
Define monomer and polymer
Monomers are single units which join to form polymers
Describe condensation reactions
Condensation reaction combines two molecules through the release of a water molecule
State that energy from ATP is needed to produce macromolecules by condensation reactions
Energy from ATP is needed to produce macromolecules by condensation reaction
Outline the condensation reactions that form polysaccharides, polypeptides and nucleic acids.
Polysaccharides 1,4 - glycosidic bond
Nucleic acids 3,5 - phosphodiester bond
Polypeptides : Peptide bonds
Describe hydrolysis reactions.
Hydrolisis reactions involve the addition of a water molecule to break down a large molecule
Outline the hydrolysis reactions that digest polysaccharides, polypeptides and nucleic acids
Polysaccharides 1,4 - glycosidic bond
Nucleic acids 3,5 - phosphodiester bond
Polypeptides : Peptide bonds
Define monosaccharide.
A carbohydrate consisting of a single sugar unit
Outline the properties of glucose referring to solubility, transportability, stability, and energy yield from oxidation.
Glucose is soluble within water because it is polar
Transportability Since it is oluble it is easily transported through body fluids
Chemical stability It is relatively stable compound, meaning it doesn’t degrade as it is transported
Energy yield : Glucose us the primary fuel for respiration in cells. It can be repeatedely oxidized to produce a net gain of up to 36 ATP molecules
Identify pentose and hexose carbohydrates from molecular diagrams.
Define polysaccharide
Polysaccharides are composed of many sugar molecules combined through a series of condensation reactions
Compare the structure and function of amylose, amylopectin, and glycogen
Amylopectin : long chains of alpha glucose with glycosidic bonds between carbon 1 and carbon 4 with branching chains at every 20th glucose which bonds at C6
Glycogen : long chains of alpha glucose with bonds between C1 and C4, There are also branching chains at C6
Discuss the benefit of polysaccharide coiling and branching during polymerization
it allows the polyssacharide to be more compact
Explain how condensation or hydrolysis of alpha-glucose monomers build or mobilize energy stores
The condensation allows the glucose to be stored and the hyrdolisis allows the starch being stored to be used as energy
Compare the structure of alpha-glucose and beta-glucose
Alpha glucose has the OH group attached to C1 at the bottom whereas Beta glucose has the OH group attached to C1 at the top
Discuss the consequences of the strength of cellulose in the plant cell wall
They have high tensile strength allowing them to maintain the structural integrity of the plant.
Describe the structure of cellulose microfibrils.
Cellulose is composed of beta molecules linked through a 1,4 glycosidic bond. Also every second beta glucose is flipped, resulting in straight chains of cellulose molecules. Cellulose chains are held together through hydrogen bonds to form microfibils
State the functions of glycoproteins in the cell membrane
To act as an antigen, allowing it to perform the roles of :
Cell to Cell Adhesion
Receptors
Cell to Cell communication
Immune Response
Compare the structure of the A, B and O glycoproteins on the red blood cell membrane
A : antigen present A antibody present B
B : antigen present B antibody present A
AB : antigen present A and B no antibody present
O : no antigen present antibody present A and B
Discuss the consequences of the presence of A, B and O glycoproteins during blood transfusion.
If your blood type has an antibody against the antigen of another bloodtype you can’t receive blood from that person
Explain why lipids are hydrophobic.
Because of their non-polar structure
Outline the structure and function of fats, oils, waxes and steroids.
Fats are triglycerides that store concentrated form of energy, they provide insulation and cushioning for organs and act as a source of fatty acids
Oils are also triglycerides however are liquid at room temperature as they have a higher proportion of unsaturated fatty acids they are used as cooking and frying mediums.
Waxes are esters of long chain fatty acids and long chain alcohols with a higly hydrophobic nature due to their non-polar structure they’re used as protective coatings on the surface of animals, plants and insects. They help reduce water loss, dehydration, provide protection against environmental factors, aid structuring features like feathers, fur and exoskeletons
Steroids are composed of four interconnected carbon rings. They have various functional groups attached to the rings, some act as hormones, others are essential to the cell membrane
Explain the condensation reaction connecting fatty acids and glycerol to form a triglyceride
3 condensation reactions between glycerol and 3 fatty acids, releasing 3 water molecules
Explain the condensation reaction connecting fatty acids, glycerol and a phosphate group to form a phospholipid.
two condensation reactions with two fatty acids
one condensation reaction with a phosphate head
Describe the structure of a generalized fatty acid.
A carboxyl group linked to a hydrocarbon chain linked to a methyl group at the end
Compare and contrast the structures and properties of saturated and unsaturated (mono- or poly-) fatty acids.
Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds between the carbons
Unsaturated fatty acids have 1 or more double bonds between the carbons leading to a bend in the fatty acid
Distinguish between the structure and properties of cis- and trans-unsaturated fatty acids
A cis- unsaturated fatty acid has both hydrogen atoms linked to the carbon with a double bond on the same side causing a bend whereas a trans has the hydrogen atoms on opposite sides causing a straighter line
Outline properties of triglycerides that make them suitable for long-term energy storage
High energy density
Low solubility
Insulation and protection
State the function of adipose tissue.
To store energy in the form of triglycerides and release it when needed
Discuss the adaptation of a thick adipose tissue layer as a thermal insulator
The adaptation made is due to the properties of ATP as it has :
low thermal conductivity
layered organization
metabolic heat production
Define hydrophilic, hydrophobic and amphipathic.
hydrophillic = water loving
hydrophobic = water fearing
amphiphatic = hydropohillic parts and hydrophobic parts
Draw a simplified diagram of the structure of the phospholipid, including a phosphate-glycerol head and two fatty acid tails.
Explain why phospholipids form bilayers in water, with reference to hydrophilic phosphate heads and two hydrophobic hydrocarbon tails
Phospholipids form bilayers in water because their structure allows their head to face the water while their tails don’t creating a circular barrier with water trapped inside facing a hydrophillic head and the water outside also touching a hydrophillic head however unable to pass through as their are hydrophobic tails
Outline the amphipathic properties of a phospholipid.
The phospholipid at the same time contains a hydrophillic phosphate head and a hydrophobic fatty acid tails which makes it amphipathic
Identify steroid molecules from molecular diagrams.
State why steroid hormones are able to pass directly through the phospholipid bilayer
Steroids are hydrophobic and can therefore pass through a phospholipid bilayer as they are able to disolve in hydrophobic fatty acid tails on the inside of the bilayer
