biological molecules Flashcards
- role of water - food tests - carbohydrates, fats and proteins - enzymes
what are the three types of carbohydrates?
monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides
examples of simple sugars/monosaccharides
glucose, fructose and galactose
examples of complex sugars/disaccharides
sucrose, lactose and maltose
examples of polysaccharides
starch, glycogen and cellulose
functions of carbohydrates
- energy source
- used in the formation of nucleic acids (DNA, RNA)
- can be converted to other organic compounds like fats and amino acids
- used to synthesise lubricants
- form supporting structures (cellulose cell wall in plants)
- used in the production of nectar in some flowers
what are carbohydrates made up of?
carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
chemical formula of glucose
C6H12O6
what are fats made up of?
carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
what does a fat molecule consist of?
1 glycerol molecule attached to fatty acid molecules
are saturated fats healthy or unhealthy?
saturated fats are unhealthy
functions of fats
- efficient source and storage form of energy
- solvent for fat-soluble vitamins, sex hormones and related hormones
- an essential part in cells, especially in cell membranes
- restrict water loss from skin surface
- acts an insulating material that prevents excessive heat loss
fats can be broken down into?
fatty acids and glycerol
what are proteins?
- made up of 20 amino acids
- each amino acid has an amino group (-NH2), a carboxylic acid group (-COOH) and a carbon side chain (denoted by R) which can contain sulfur and nitrogen
functions of proteins
- synthesis of protoplasm, for growth and repair of worn-out body cells
- synthesis of enzymes
- synthesis of hormones
- synthesis of antibodies
- source of energy
glycogen is synthesised from?
glucose
polypeptides and proteins are synthesised from?
amino acids
what are lipids synthesised from?
fatty acids and glycerol
examples of reducing sugars
glucose, fructose and maltose
what is used to test for presence of reducing sugars?
Benedict’s test using Benedict’s solution
describe procedure of Benedict’s test
- Place 2cm^3 of each food sample into a test tube
- Add 2cm^3 of Benedict’s solution to the food sample
- Shake the mixture and place the test tube in a boiling water-bath for 2-3 mins
- Record the colour of the solution
observation when no reducing sugar is present
Benedict’s solution remained blue
observation when traces of reducing sugar is present
Benedict’s solution turned from blue to green
observation when moderate amounts of reducing sugar is present
Benedict’s solution turned from blue to yellow/orange
observation when large amounts of reducing sugar is present
Benedict’s solution turned from blue to red/ red precipitate formed
describe procedure for test for starch
- Add a few drops of iodine in potassium iodide solution to a food sample
- Record your observations