Biological Molecules (1) Flashcards
What is a monomer?
Smaller units from which larger molecules are made
What are polymers?
Molecules made from a large number of similar monomers joined together
Examples of monomers?
Monosaccharides, amino acids and nucleotides
What is a condensation reaction?
2 molecules joining together forming a chemical bond; this involves the elimination of a water molecule (as in + H2O after)
What is a hydrolysis reaction?
The breaking of a chemical bond between 2 molecules; involves the use of a water molecule
What atoms are all present in (all) carbohydrates?
Carbon hydrogen and oxygen
What are the 3 carbohydrate groups?
Monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides
What is a monosaccharides?
Monomers of carbohydrates, mainly used in respiration to provide energy and in growth (during the formation of larger molecules).
Examples of monosaccharides include:
Glucose fructose and galactose, they all share the same formula so are hexoses
What formula do all monosaccharides have?
C6H12O6
Facts about monosaccharides:
Small, soluble molecules
Easy to transport
Sweet tasting
Reducing sugars
What does a reducing sugar mean in terms of tests?
They give a positive (brick red ppt) Benedict’s test result
Alongside glucose, fructose and galactose all being ____ (different structures), glucose also has 2 ____: alpha and beta glucose
Isomers
Structure of the 2 isomers are:
What is a disaccharides?
Double sugars. 2 monosaccharides joined together by a glycosidic bond with the release of water
Examples of disaccharides include:
Maltose lactose and sucrose
How are each of these 3 disaccharides formed?
Maltose - glucose + glucose
Sucrose - glucose + fructose
Lactose - glucose + galactose
How can you hydrolyse a disaccharides?
Heating with acid or by an enzyme
What is a polysaccharides?
Polymers of glucose, they differ in the number and arrangement of the glucose molecules they contain
Examples of polysaccharides include:
Cellulose starch and glycogen
Glycogen and starch are formed by ___ glucose, cellulose from ___ glucose
Alpha, Beta
Facts about polysaccharides:
- do not taste sweet
- relatively insoluble in water
- are non reducing
- function as storage or structural molecules
‘What is’ starch?
The storage carbohydrate found in plants, stored as starch grains in the cytoplasm of plant cells
What is the structure of starch?
Long branches chains of alpha glucose molecules linked by glycosidic bonds