Biological Molecules

Question 1

what are the key molecules that are required to build structures to enable organisms to function?

Answer 1

carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, water

Question 2

What are Monomers

Answer 2

a small basic molecular unit that can form to create polymers

Question 3

What are Polymers

Answer 3

A large and complex chain of monomers

Question 4

why are carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids known as organic compounds?

Answer 4

they contain carbon and hydrogen

Question 5

examples of monomers

Answer 5

Monosaccharides, amino acids and nucleotides

Question 6

examples of polymers

Answer 6

nucleic acid, proteins, starch

Question 7

give 3 examples as to why carbon atoms are key to organic compounds

Answer 7

1. each carbon atom can form four covalent bonds (this makes the compounds very stable)
2. can form covalent bonds with oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur
3. can bond to form straight chains, branched chains or rings

Question 8

what is polymerisation

Answer 8

monomers that bond with eachother to create polymers

Question 9

what are monosaccharides

Answer 9

a simple sugar that is the basic unit of all carbohydrates

Question 9

examples of monosaccharides

Answer 9

Glucose, galactose and fructose

Question 10

the function of monosaccharides is?

Answer 10

• the source of energy in respiration
• building blocks for polymers

Question 11

what are disaccharides

Answer 11

a sugar formed from two monosaccharides joined by a glycosidic bond in a condensation reaction

Question 12

examples of disaccharides

Answer 12

maltose,sucrose and lactose

Question 13

what is the function of disaccharides

Answer 13

• sugar found in germinating seeds (maltose)
• mammals milk sugar (lactose)
• sugar stored in sugar cane (sucrose)

Question 14

what are polysaccharides

Answer 14

a polymer formed by many monosaccharides joined by a glycosidic bond

Question 15

what are the functions of polysaccharides

Answer 15

• energy storage (plants- starch animals- glycogen)
• structural - cell wall

Question 16

what is a covalent bond

Answer 16

the sharing of two or more electrons between two atoms

Question 17

when is a nonpolar covalent bond formed

Answer 17

when the electrons are shared equally

Question 18

when is a polar covalent bond formed

Answer 18

when the electrons are shared unequally (when an atom can be more electronegative)

Question 19

what is electronegativity

Answer 19

how strongly an atom will pull a pair of electrons towards itself in a covalent bond

Question 20

why do different atoms form a certain number of covalent bonds

Answer 20

due to the number of free electrons in the outer orbital

Question 21

how can multiple pairs of electrons be shared

Answer 21

double bonds (eg. unsaturated fats) or triple bonds

Question 22

what is a condensation reaction?

Answer 22

when two molecules join together with the formation of a chemical bond and involves the elimination of a
molecule of water

Question 23

what is a hydrolysis reaction

Answer 23

it breaks a chemical bond between two
molecules and involves the use of a water molecule.

Question 24

what covalent bond does carbohydrates make

Answer 24

glycosidic bonds

Question 25

what covalent bond do proteins make

Answer 25

peptide bonds

Question 26

what covalent bond do lipids make

Answer 26

ester

Question 27

what covalent bond does nucleic acid make

Answer 27

phosphodiester

Question 28

what is the molecular formula of glucose

Answer 28

C₆H₁₂O₆

Question 29

what are the different types of monosaccharides

Answer 29

trioses (3C), pentoses (5C), Hexoses (6C) etc.

Question 30

what are the two forms of glucose

Answer 30

alpha glucose and beta glucose

Question 31

what is an isomer

Answer 31

molecules that have the same molecular formula but have a different arrangement of atoms

Question 32

what type of structure is glucose when it is in an aqueous solution

Answer 32

a ring structure