Biological Molecules Flashcards
Define Monosaccharide
Basic monomer of which other carbohydrates are composed. They include the reducing sugars glucose and fructose.
Three properties of Water:
High level of cohesion.
High specific heat capacity.
Good Solvent
What is hydrolysis?
The breaking down of the chemical bond between monomers using a water molecule.
What three chemical elements are found in carbohydrates?
Carbon, oxygen and hydrogen.
What are the monomers that make up carbohydrates?
The monosaccharides ribose and glucose
What is the function of a phospholipid?
They are barriers so water-soluble substances can’t easily pass through.
What is the function for cholesterol?
Helps strengthen the cell membrane.
How does cholesterol function?
It binds the hydrophobic tails of the phospholipids, causing them to pack closely together, making them stronger.
What is the difference between and alpha glucose molecule and a beta glucose molecule?
The OH is differently positioned.
What is the difference between an anion and a cation?
A cation is a positively charged molecule and an anion is a negatively charged molecule, they are both types of ion.
State three types of cation ion.
Calcium Sodium Potassium Hydrogen Ammonium
State five types of anion ion.
Nitrate Hydrogen Carbonate Phosphate Chloride Hydroxide
What are the monomers that make up lipids?
Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
Describe how hydrogen bonding occurs between water molecules.
The slightly negative oxygen attracts the slightly positive hydrogen atoms and, because it’s unevenly distributed, it becomes a polar molecule.
What are covalent bonds?
The sharing of electrons between atoms.
What are ionic bonds?
The giving or receiving of bonds between atoms.
What is a polar molecule?
A molecule that has regions of positivity and regions of negativity.
What is a condensation reaction and give an example of one.
A condensation reaction is where two molecules join together to form one larger molecule (the ester) and a small molecule, usually water.
Eg: Glycosidic Bond
What is an ester bond.
Ester bonds are formed by the reaction of an acid and alcohol.
What is a reducing sugar?
Sugars that donate electrons or reduce another chemical or molecule.
What is the chemical test for reducing sugar?
Benedict’s Reagent
What is Benedict’s Reagent made out of?
Alkalic copper sulphate.
If a reducing sugar is present, what colour will the original solution become?
Brick Red
What colour will the copper sulphate turn into if no reducing sugars are present?
It will stay blue.
