Bio-Pac 01: Objective 02-05

Question 1

Objective 2. Differentiate between an inorganic compound and an organic compound.

Answer 1

To differentiate an organic compound and inorganic compound the determining factor is where the source of the substance comes from. Meaning that if the compound originates from a nonliving source, the compound is inorganic, and if a compound originates from a living source then the compound is considered organic. To be an organic compound an organism needs to produce it, while an inorganic compound can’t be produced by an organism. All organic compounds must contain some carbon to be considered an organic compound, while an inorganic compound does not need carbon. All organic compounds are carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, or nucleic acids, while an inorganic compound is none. Carbon can form ring shaped, straight chained, or branched chained structures because carbon has four electrons available for bonding. This means that organic compounds can be isomers, have the same equation but different structures, different shapes, and different sizes because organic compounds are made of carbon. However inorganic compounds cannot be isomers, different sizes, or shapes, because they are not made of carbon.

Question 2

Objective 3. Design a chart to identify the chemical similarities and differences among the four main kinds of organic compounds.

Answer 2

Carbohydrates

1. Organic compound composed of a ratio of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom for every one carbon atom.
2. Monosaccharaides are simple carbohydrates. Some monosaccharaides are fructose and glucose, and when these link together they form sucrose (table sugar), or a disaccharide.
3. Large carbohydrate molecules are called polysaccharides, polymers composed of many monosaccharide subunits. Examples of polysaccharides are starch, highly branched glucose, glycogen, even more highly branched than starch. Cellulose is a polysaccharide formed from glucose. Cellulose forms the cell walls of plants and gives them structural support.

Lipids

1. Lipids are the fats and oils of your body.
2. They are insoluble in water because lipid molecules are nonpolar and not attracted to water.
3. Just like carbohydrates, lipids store energy but for a long period of time. They are also used for insulation and protective coatings.

Similarities

1. All organic compounds (made of carbon)
2. All are essential to human life.
3. All contain Hydrogen, Carbon, and Oxygen.
4. Molecules all make up organic compounds, because the monomers, molecules, make up polymers, group of molecules, which are the organic compound, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Proteins

1. Carry out cell metabolism.
2. A large complex polymer composed of carbon hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur.
3. The basic blocks of proteins are amino acids. Proteins are linked by amino acids, and the amino acids are linked by hydrogen bonds.
4. Proteins help contract muscles, transport oxygen, provide immunity, and carry out chemical reactions by forming enzymes.

Nucleic Acids

1. The monomers of nucleic acids are nucleotides.
2. Nucleotides consist of hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus.
3. DNA, the master copy of your genetics is a nucleic acid, and RNA is the copy of DNA, and is a nucleic acid.

Question 3

Objective 4. Summarize the interaction between an enzyme and its substrate.

Answer 3

Each enzyme reacts with a specific molecule or set of molecules (substrates). Each substrate goes with its specific enzyme, and each enzyme goes with its specific substrate. The substrate will fit into its enzyme, because the enzyme will only allow its specific substrate into it. When the substrate is fitted with its specific enzyme and the enzyme is with its specific substrate, the enzyme will then hold the substrate or substrates in position so the reaction occurs easily. Once the reaction is done, the enzyme will release the products from the reaction.

Question 4

Objective 5. Describe the three different types of carbohydrates.

Answer 4

There are three different types of carbohydrates; there are monosaccharaides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides. Monosaccharaides means simple sugars. Monosaccharaides’ formula is C6H12O6, meaning that the ratio is two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom for every one carbon atom. There are three different types of monosaccharaides, glucose (what all carbohydrates are changed into), fructose, and galactose. Fructose and galactose must be broken down before they can be used as energy, while glucose is the main cell fuel. Then there are disaccharides which are double sugars. Disaccharides are the second type of carbohydrates because they are double sugars, meaning that two monosaccharaides make one disaccharide. The formula for disaccharides is C12H22O11. Disaccharide examples are sucrose (glucose and fructose) and lactose (galactose). These can be formed by adding two monosaccharaides together. Polysaccharides are the third type of carbohydrate. These are adding three or more monosaccharaides together. Some examples of polysaccharides are animal starch and plant starch. Polysaccharides are long-lasting energy. The three types of carbohydrates are monosaccharaides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides, because one is made of only one sugar, the next two, and the third three or more. These are the three types of carbohydrates, because it shows that within carbohydrates there are three categories that split up carbohydrates.