Biological Molecules Flashcards
What are the properties of water?
High specific heat capacity High latent heat of evaporation Very cohesive Lower density when solid God solvent
What are the functions of water?
Important in reactions
Used to transport substances
Helps with premature control
Water is a habitat
What elements are carbohydrates made of?
Hydrogen, carbon and oxygen
What is the general formula of carbohydrates?
Cx(H20)Y
What is a polymer?
Long chain molecules
Linked up by monomers in a repeating pattern
What are the two types of glucose?
Alpha and Beta
Draw an alpha glucose molecule
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Draw an beta glucose molecule
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Describe the structure of glucose
A monoscaccride with 6 carbon rings
Describe the structure of ribose
A monoscaccride with 5 carbon rings
Draw a verbose molecule
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What bond are monosaccharides joined by?
glycosidic bonds
This is a condensation reactions (releases water)
What is a monosaccharide?
It is a simple sugar (CH4O)n
What is a disaccharide?
Double sugar two monosaccharide
What is a polysaccharide?
large molecules from many monosaccarides joined through condensation and glycosidic bonds
Describe the structure of the statch amylose
Long unbrached
alpha glucose
Coiled structure
very compact therefore its good for stoage
Describe the structure of the statch amylopectin
Long branched
alpha glucose
Its in rows allowing it to be broken down easily and quickly
What is a hydrolysis reaction?
It is the breakdown of di/polysaccharides with addition of water molcules
What is the structure of glycogen?
Main energy storage in animals Branched Alpha glucose Very compact Storage molecule
What is the structure of cellulose?
Unbranched chains Component in plant cell walls Beta glucose Provides structural support Straight shains
Compare glycogen and cellulose
Glycogen:
- Alpha glucose
- Branched
- Storage molecule
Cellulose:
- Beta glucose
- Unbranched
- Structural molcule
What makes up a triglyceride?
One glycerol molecule
Three fatty acid molcules
What type of bond is formed between the glycerol and fatty acids
Ester bonds
Draw the chemical structure of a tryglceride
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Which part of a fatty acid is hydrophobic and hydrophilic?
Tail hydrophobic
Heads Hydrophilic
What is the difference between saturated and unsaturated
Unsaturated has at least one carbon double bond
What makes up a phospholipid
One glycerol molecule
Two fatty acid molecules
One Phosphate group
What are the main functions of triglycerides?
Energy storage in plants and animals
Insoluble
Heat (insulation)
What are the main functions of phospholipids?
Make up a bilayer
Used in cell membranes
What are the main functions of cholesterol?
It helps strengthen cell membranes
What is a protein made of?
An R group, carboxlic group and amine group
Draw the structure of an amino acid
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What is a primary structure?
This is the sequence of amino acids in the polypeptide chain. Held together by peptide bonds;
What is a secondary structure?
Hydrogen bonds either causes amino acids to coil (alpha helix) or fold (beta sheets)
What is a tertiary structure?
This is the bonds between the residual group
- Hydrophoblic /hydrophilic
- Hydrogen bonds
- Disulphide bonds
- Ionic bonds
What is a quaternary structure?
Some proteins are made of several peptide chains. They form either globular proteins or fibrous proteins.
What is a globular protein?
They are round and compact
Give 3 examples of a globular protien
Haemoglobin
Insulin
Amylase
What is a fibrous protein?
They are tough and rope-shaped.
Give 3 examples of a fibrous protien
Keratin
Elastin
Collagen
What are inorganic ions?
An ion is an atom that has an electrical charge
Inorganic ones do not contain carbon
What is a cation?
An ion with a positive charge
What is an anion?
An ion with a negative charge
What test is used for protiens? and state the basic components of this test
Biuret testing
- The test solution needs to be alkaline, add drops of sodium hydroxide
- add copper sulphate
- If a protein is present it turns purple
What is the test for starch? and state the basic components of this test
The iodine test
- Add iodine
- if starch is present it turns from an browny orange to a blue/black colour
What test is used for lipids? and state the basic components of this test
The emulsion test for lipids
- shake the test subject with ethanol
- Then add water
- If a lipid is present it will turn milky
What is the test used for sugars?
Benedicts test for sugars
What is a reducing sugar and how would you test for it?
Reducing sugar include all monosaccharides and some disaccharides
- Add benedicts solution
- Heat in a water bath
- If the test is positive it will form a coloured precipitate
How would you test for non reducing sugars?
- add hydrochloric acid
- heat in water bath
- neutralise with sodium hydrogencarbonate
- If it changes colour is is a non reducing sugar
