Chapter 3 Flashcards
What are the characteristics of water?
High boiling point. Ice is less dense than water. Cohesive. Adhesive. Surface tension.
Why is water vital for life?
Acts as a solvent. Transport medium. Coolant. Stable. Surface tension.
Which elements do carbohydrates contain?
Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
What is a monosaccharide?
A single sugar unit.
What is amylose?
A starch made of alpha glucose molecules joined only by 1-4 glycosidic bonds. The angle of the bonding means that the chain twists into a helix. Hydrogen bonding within the molecule stabilises it further.
What is amylopectin?
A starch made of alpha glucose molecules bonded by 1-4 glycosidic bonds. Some 1-6 branching points (approx every 25 glucose subunits).
What is glycogen?
Similar to amylopectin but forms more branches so it is more compact so less space needed to store it. This is important as animals move. Coiling and branching of glycogen makes it very compact and means that there are free ends where glucose molecules can be added or removed- speeds up storage and releasing process.
What is cellulose?
Made of beta glucose molecules bonded by 1-4 glycosidic bonds. Straight chained, no branches.
Cellulose make hydrogen bonds with each other, forming microfibrils which then join to make macrofibrils and then fibres. These are very strong and insoluble so are used to make cell walls.
How do you test for reducing sugars?
Place sample in a boiling tube. If it isn’t liquid, grind it up or blend with water.
Add equal volume of Benedict’s reagent which is an alkaline solution of copper(II) sulfate.
Heat the mixture in a boiling water bath for five minutes.
If there are reducing sugars, the solution should change from a blue colour to brick red.
How do you test for non reducing sugars?
Heat the sample with dilute hydrochloric acid then warm it with Benedict’s reagent.
How do you test for starch?
Iodine test:
Add a few drops of iodine dissolved in potassium iodide solution to the sample.
If starch is present, the solution should change colours from yellow/brown to purple/black.
What are quantitative methods to determine concentration?
Colorimetry and Biosensors
What is the significance of starch, glycogen and cellulose?
Starch- energy storage in plant cells only. Found inside chloroplast cell organelle (starch grains). STORAGE
Glycogen- energy storage in animal cells only. Found inside liver or exercising muscles. STORAGE
Cellulose- Makes plant cell wall. STRUCTURAL
What are the useful properties of glycogen and starch?
Compact, easily hydrolysed, does not alter water potential of cells and insoluble in water.
What is the function of cellulose?
Supports the plant cell.
Stop cells from bursting when animal cell moves in through osmosis.
Which elements do lipids contain?
Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
What is a triglyceride?
A triglyceride is made by combining a glycerol molecule (which is an alcohol) and three fatty acids (which are carboxylic acids)
Which bonds are present in triglycerides?
Ester bonds.
Why are unsaturated fatty acids liquid?
The kink caused by the double bonds prevents the fatty acids from stacking on each other in a regular arrangement.