Chapter 2 Flashcards
any of numerous substances that are produced by cells and living organisms.
biomolecules
four major types of biomolecules
carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins
two main functions of carbohydrates
source for chemical energy for cells in many living things
part of the structural material of plants
chemical composition of carbohydrates
made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
in a ratio of roughly one carbon atom (C)
to one water molecule (H2O)
carbohydrates’ stoichiometric formula
(CH2O)n. where “n” is the number of carbons in the molecule.
ratio of carbon to hydrogen to oxygen in carbs
1:2:1
types of carbohydrates
mono-, di-, oligo-, polysaccharide
monosaccharides
fructose, glucose, galactose
disaccharides
sucrose, lactose, malactose
oligosaccharides
raffinose, stachyose
polysaccharides
starch, cellulose, glycogen
long chains of simpler sugars joined together
starch
big molecules of starch are also called..
macromolecules
a macromolecule that is slower to break down in the body & provide energy
for a longer period of time than regular sugars.
starch
cell wall of plant cells
cellulose
why your body cannot digest cellulose the same way it can starches & sugars.
cellulose is made from chains of thousands of glucose molecules, but the difference is
in how they’re linked.