Biomolecules Flashcards
Why is water referred to as a ‘polar molecule’?
- Has a positively charged hydrogen end
- Has a negatively charged oxygen end (unpaired electrons)
What type of bonds form between water molecules?
Hydrogen
What are the properties of water?
- Universal solvent (transport)
- Transport medium (cohesion)
- High surface tension (cohesion)
- Coolant (solid less dense than liquid)
- High specific heat capacity (habitat)
What is the importance of water being a universal solvent?
- Most things dissolve in water
- Has a positive and negative end so will become attracted to many different types of molecules, e.g. NaCl
- Acts as a transport medium
What is the importance of water having a high specific capacity?
Requires a high amount of energy to raise the temperature of 1g of water by 1 degrees celsius - stable habitats
What is the importance of water having a high surface tension?
- Due to hydrogen bonds having strong molecular interactions (cohesion)
- Allows insects to stand on water
What is the importance of water density decreasing under 4°C?
Ice floats on water providing insulating layer and stable habitat
Water organisms can float as the water density is high
What is the importance of water having cohesion and adhesion?
- Form water columns that flow uphill (xylem)
- Good transport medium
- High surface tension
What is cohesion?
Joining of water molecules to other water molecules
What is adhesion?
The joining of water to different polar molecules
What are polymers?
A long molecule made up of any smaller molecules (monomers)
What are monomers?
Small molecules that are the building block of polymers
Give 4 examples of biomolecules
1- Carbohydrates
2- Proteins
3- Lipids
4- Nucleic acids
What are the monomers in carbohydrates called?
Monosaccharides (glucose)
What are the polymers in carbohydrates called?
Polysaccharides
What are the monomers in proteins called?
Amino acids
What are the monomers in lipids called?
Triglyceride
What are the monomers in nucleic acids called?
Nucleotides
What are the polymers in nucleic acids called?
DNA/RNA
What is condensation?
When 2 molecules join together to form one larger molecule and one molecule of water
What is hydrolysis?
When 2 molecules are split apart using a molecule of water
Draw an alpha glucose molecule
A
Draw a beta glucose molecule
B
What is amylose and amylopectin used for?
Glucose/energy storage in plants
What is a glycosidic bond?
A bond that forms between carbohydrates
What is a disaccharide?
2 monosaccharides
Glucose + Glucose = ?
Maltose
Glucose + Fructose = ?
Sucrose
Glucose + Galactose = ?
Lactose
How is maltose formed?
Glucose + Glucose
How is sucrose formed?
Glucose + Fructose
What is ribose?
- A pentose monosaccharide
(5 carbon atoms) - Sugar that forms RNA nucleotides