B1.1 - Carbohydrates and Lipids Flashcards
What is a disaccharide?
A carbohydrate formed by the combination of two monosaccharides.
What distinguishes saturated fatty acids from unsaturated fatty acids?
Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds, while unsaturated fatty acids have one or more double bonds.
Why are lipids more suitable for long-term energy storage than carbohydrates?
They have higher energy density, are hydrophobic, and help regulate metabolism.
What is the role of molecular visualization software in studying carbohydrates?
It helps compare the structures of cellulose, starch, and glycogen to understand their properties.
What is the energy density of lipids compared to carbohydrates?
Lipids provide about 9 kcal/g, while carbohydrates provide 4 kcal/g.
What is a limitation of BMI?
It does not distinguish between muscle mass and fat mass.
What is the primary function of glycogen?
It serves as the primary carbohydrate storage molecule in animals.
What are polysaccharides?
Complex carbohydrates formed by many monosaccharides linked together.
How is BMI calculated?
Using the formula: $$ ext{BMI} = \frac{\text{Weight (kg)}}{\text{Height (m)}^2} $$.
What are cis and trans isomers?
Cis isomers have hydrogen atoms on the same side of a double bond; trans isomers have them on opposite sides.
What is cellulose?
A structural polysaccharide in plant cell walls, made of glucose units connected by β-1,4 glycosidic bonds.
What are triglycerides?
The most common form of stored fat, formed from three fatty acids and one glycerol molecule.
What are the two types of glucose polymers in starch?
Amylose (linear) and amylopectin (branched).
Give an example of a disaccharide.
Sucrose, which is glucose + fructose.
What are monosaccharides?
The simplest form of carbohydrates, serving as building blocks for more complex sugars.
