Biological Molecules & Enzymes Flashcards
What chemical elements are present in carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids?
Carbohydrates and lipids: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen; Proteins: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sometimes sulfur.
Describe the structure of carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates are made up of simple sugars (monosaccharides).
Describe the structure of proteins.
Proteins are made up of amino acids.
Describe the structure of lipids.
Lipids are made up of fatty acids and glycerol.
How can you test for the presence of glucose in food samples?
Use Benedict’s solution; a positive test changes color from blue to orange/red.
How can you test for the presence of starch in food samples?
Use iodine solution; a positive test changes color from brown to blue/black.
How can you test for the presence of protein in food samples?
Use Biuret reagent; a positive test changes color from blue to purple.
How can you test for the presence of fat in food samples?
Use the ethanol emulsion test; a positive test results in a cloudy white layer.
What is the role of enzymes in metabolic reactions?
Enzymes act as biological catalysts to speed up chemical reactions.
How does temperature affect enzyme function?
Temperature changes can alter the enzyme’s active site shape, affecting its activity.
How can enzyme activity be affected by pH changes?
pH changes can alter the enzyme’s active site shape, affecting its activity.
