B1.1 Carbohydrates and Lipids

Question 1

Covalent bond

Answer 1

A chemical bond where two atoms share a pair of electrons.

Question 2

Carbon atom structure and bonding

Answer 2

A carbon atom contains 6 electrons, 6 protons, and 6-8 neutrons. There are 2 electrons in the inner shell and 4 in the outer shell. Because of this, a carbon atom can form a maximum of four covalent bonds. Bond can be created with other carbon atoms or with non-metals such as oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and phosphorus.

Question 3

Why is carbon’s ability to link four other atoms important?

Answer 3

The four covalent bonds allow the creation of complex molecular structures, including rings or chains of atoms. Rings can be single or multiple, and chains can be as long as needed and can be branched. This results in a diverse range of carbon compounds and structures that form the basis of life in all organisms.

Question 4

Monomers

Answer 4

Atoms or small molecules that bond together to form more complex structures like polymers. Nucleotides, for example, are the monomers of DNA.

Question 5

Macromolecules / Polymers

Answer 5

Very large, complex molecules formed with smaller, repeating monomers that have been linked together via covalent bonds. They result in polymers like proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids.

Question 6

Hydrolysis reactions

Answer 6

The opposite of a condensation reaction, where a larger molecule is broken into smaller molecules and water is used up in the process. Water molecules are split into -OH and -H then bonded to the broken up parts of the larger molecule. This is an important process in digestion, where large molecules must be broken up for nutrients.

Question 7

Monosaccharides

Answer 7

The simplest form of a carbohydrate, it cannot be broken into a smaller form without