Biological Molecules (Chapter 1 & 2) Flashcards
What are monomers?
They are the smaller units from which larger molecules are made
What are polymers?
They are molecules made from a large number of monomers joined together
List 3 examples of monomers
Monosaccharides
Amino acids
Nucleotides
What is a condensation reaction?
It is a reaction which joins two molecules together with the formation of a chemical bond and involves the elimination of a water molecule
What is a hydrolysis reaction?
It breaks down a chemical bond between two molecules and involves the use of a water molecule
What is a monosaccharide?
It is the monomers from which larger carbohydrates are made
Give three examples of a monosaccharide
Glucose
Galactose
Fructose
What is bond formed from a condensation reaction of two monosaccharides?
Glycosidic bond
How are disaccharides formed?
By the condensation of two monosaccharides
How is the disaccharide maltose formed?
Condensation reaction of two glucose molecules
How is the disaccharide sucrose formed?
Condensation reaction of glucose and fructose
How is the disaccharide lactose formed?
Condensation reaction of glucose and galactose
How many isomers of glucose is there?
Two ( alpha and beta glucose)
How do alpha glucose and beta glucose differ?
Alpha glucose has both OH on bottom (if that makes sense lol)
How are polysaccharides made?
By the condensation of manny glucose units
How is the polysaccharide glycogen and starch made?
Condensation of alpha glucose
How is the polysaccharide cellulose formed?
Condensation of beta glucose
What is the main energy store in plants?
Starch
What is starch a mixture of?
A mixture of two polysaccharides of alpha glucose- amylose and amylopectin
What is amylose? (Structure and what is it made of)
Long unbranded chain of alpha glucose
Has a coiled structure which is good for storage
What is amylopectin? (Structure, enzymes and what is it made of)
Long branched chain of alpha glucose
Side branches allow enzymes to get to glycosidic bond easily- glucose can be released quickly
What is the test for starch?
Iodine test
Brown/ orange ———> blue/ black
What is the main energy store in animals?
Glycogen
Describe the structure of glycogen
Like amylopectin but has loads more side branches
Very compact
What is cellulose used for?
Cell walls in plants
Describe the structure and bonding in cellulose
Long unbranded chains of beta glucose
Cellulose chains linked by hydrogen bonds to form microfibrils (for structural support)
What is the test for sugars? and the colour change
Benedict’s test
Blue —> green —> yellow —> orange —> brick red
How to test for non reducing sugars
Add hydrochloric acid and bring to boil
Add sodium hydrogen-carbonate to neutralise
And then carry out Benedict’s test
What is a reducing sugar?
All monosaccharides
Some disaccharides ie maltose and lactose
How are triglycerides formed?
Via condensation reaction of one glycerol and three fatty acids
What bond is formed between glycerol and fatty acid?
Ester bond
Is the r group of a fatty acid saturated or unsaturated?
It can be either
What are phospholipids made of?
One glycerol, 2 fatty acids and a phosphate containing group
What do phospholipids make up?
The bilayer of a cell membrane
How are phospholipids catered for their function?
Heads are hydrophilic
Tails are hydrophobic
What are triglycerides mainly used for?
Energy storage molecule
Why are triglycerides catered for their role?
Long hydrocarbon tails contain lots of chemical energy- lipids contain about twice as much energy per gram as carbohydrates
They are insoluble so don’t effect water potential
Do triglycerides clump together?
Yes
They clump together as insoluble droplets in cells because tails are hydrophobic
What is the test for lipids?
Emulsion test
Turns milky
Describe how to undertake an emulsion test
Shake the test substance with ethanol for a minuet
Pour the solution into water