Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Bio > Biological Molecules > Flashcards

Biological Molecules Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 4 main Biological Molecules?

A
  • Carbohydrates
  • Proteins
  • Lipids
  • Nucleic Acids
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the major elements of Biological Molecules?

A
  • Carbon
  • Hydrogen
  • Oxygen
  • Nitrogen
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the 3 types of bonds are used in Biological Molecules?

A
  • Covalent bonding
  • Ionic bonding
  • Hydrogen bonding
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is Covalent bonding?

A

When the 2 atoms share a pair of electrons in their outer shells. As a result, the outer shell of both atoms is filled and a more stable compound is made

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is Ionic bonding?

A

The attraction of ions with opposite charges

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is Hydrogen bonding?

A

An attraction between a Hydrogen atom and an atom with a negative charge

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are Polymers made up of?

A

Monomers which join together in a condensation reaction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How are Polymers broken down?

A

In a hydrolysis reaction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is a Molar Solution?

A

A solution that contains one Mole of solute in each litre of the solution

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is a Mole?

A

One Mole contains the same number of particles as there are in 12g of Carbon-12 atoms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are Carbohydrates made up of?

A
  • Carbon
  • Hydrogen
  • Oxygen
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are the uses of Carbohydrates?

A
  • Sources of energy in all organisms
  • Structural materials used in cell walls and cell membranes
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are Monosaccharides?

A

The simplest form of sugars. They cannot be hydrolysed into a simpler sugar

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the general formula for Monosaccharides?

A

(CH2 O)n
(the n can be between 3-7)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the most common Monosaccharide?

A

Glucose (C6 H12 O6)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the 4 main Monosaccharides?

A
  • Glucose
  • Fructose
  • Galactose
  • Ribose
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are the 2 types of Glucose?

A
  • Alpha Glucose (a)
  • Beta Glucose (b)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What can Alpha Glucose be used to make?

A

It is used to make Starch and Glycogen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What can Beta Glucose be used to make?

A

It is used to make Cellulose

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What are Disaccharides made of?

A

They are 2 Monosaccharides joined together by a Glycosidic Bond

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What reaction forms Disaccharides?

A

Formed in a Condensation reaction producing a molecule of water

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

How is the Disaccharide Maltose formed?

A

From 2 Glucose molecules

23
Q

How is the Disaccharide Sucrose formed?

A

From 1 Glucose molecule and 1 Fructose molecule

24
Q

How is the Disaccharide Lactose formed?

A

From 1 Galactose molecule and 1 Glucose molecule

25
What are Reducing Sugars?
Sugars that can act as reducing agents by donating electrons to other substances.
26
What is the Benedict's test?
When a Reducing Sugar reacts with Benedict's solution and reduces the copper(II) ions to copper(I) ions, changing the colour from blue to orange.
27
What do you do when the Disaccharide cannot reduce the copper(II) ions?
The Disaccharide must be hydrolyzed into into Monosaccharides, which are all Reducing Sugars, so they can reduce the copper(II) ions
28
What are Polysaccharides made of?
They are long chains of Monosaccharides joined together by Glycosidic bonds via Condensation reactions
29
What are the 3 main Polysaccharides?
- Starch - Glycogen - Cellulose
30
What are the functions of Starch? (4 points)
- Storage for plants - Insoluble - Forms starch grains inside many plant cells - Can be broken down into Glucose and used as an energy source
31
What is Starch made out of?
Many Alpha Glucose molecules joined together in a Condensation reaction
32
How is starch good for storage? (5 points)
- Insoluble: Doesn't affect water potential - Large: Doesn't diffuse out of cells - Compact: Stored in small spaces - Hydrolysis: Forms Alpha Glucose, easily transported and used in respiration - Branched: High surface area for quick and easy hydrolysis
33
What is the difference between Glycogen and Starch?
Glycogen has shorter chains and is more highly branched
34
Where is glycogen mainly stored?
Small granules in in the muscles and liver
35
Why does glycogens' structure suit it for storage? (3 points)
Insoluble - doesn't draw water from osmosis and it can't diffuse out of cells Compact - so lots can be stored in a small space More branched than starch - so can be hydrolysed quicker than starch
36
What is cellulose made out of?
Beta glucose
37
What is different about cellulose's structure to starch's or glycogen's? What does it allow cellulose to be?
Cellulose has straight unbranched chains which allows lots of hydrogen bonds to form, making cellulose very strong
38
What is cellulose a major component of? Why is it important?
Plant cell walls. Cellulose provides rigidity to the plant cell and prevents it from bursting as water enters it by osmosis
39
What is the structure of triglycerides? What is the bond used?
1 glycerol + 3 fatty acids joined by an ester bond
40
What are the roles of lipids? (4 points)
- Source of energy - Waterproofing - Insulation - Protection
41
What is the structure of phospholipids?
Two fatty acids, a phosphate group, and a glycerol molecule
42
What is the test for lipids?
The emulsion test Add 5cm^3 of ethanol to 2cm^3 of the solution you want to test. Shake thoroughly to dissolve any lipid in the sample. Add 5cm^3 of water and shake again, A cloudy white colour indicates the presence of a lipid
43
What is the primary structure of proteins?
Polypeptides
44
How are amino acids linked to form polypeptides?
Through polymerization, which is a series of condensation reactions.
45
What are the secondary structures of proteins?
Alpha helix or beta pleated sheets
46
How is the tertiary structure of proteins formed?
Alpha helices twisted and folded together and held together with disulfide bridges, ionic bonds and hydrogen bonds
47
What is the quaternary structure of proteins?
A complex molecule containing a number of individual polypeptide chains that are linked in various ways
48
What is the test for proteins? (3 steps)
The Biuret test - Place a sample of the solution in a test tube and add equal volume of room temperature sodium hydroxide solution - Add a few drops of very dilute copper(II) sulfate and mix gently - A purple colour indicates the presence of peptide bonds and therefore a protein
49
How do enzymes speed up chemical reactions?
They lower the activation energy required for the chemical reaction to start.
50
Explain the lock and key model of enzyme action
Enzymes work like a lock and key. The substrate will only fit the active site of one particular enzyme.
51
Explain the induced fit model of enzyme action
The active site forms as the enzyme and substrate interact. The proximity of the substrate leads to a change in the enzyme that forms the functional active site.
52
What is a catalyst?
An enzyme that alters the rate of a chemical reaction without undergoing permanent changes themselves
53
What molecules are reducing sugars?
All monosaccharides and some disaccharides

Bio (14 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions