Chapter 3 Biological Molecules Flashcards
Elements present in: Carbohydrates Lipids Proteins Nucleic acids Phospholipid
Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen
Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen
Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur
Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorous
Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorous
What is the structure of water?
- H-O-H
- the distribution of electrons between the covalently bonded atoms is not equal
- causing a slightly negative charge on oxygen and slightly positive charge on hydrogen
- the negative oxygen attracts the hydrogen of other water molecules
- this attraction is hydrogen bonding
Why do hydrogen bonds give water a high specific heat capacity and latent heat?
The hydrogen bonds can absorb a lot of energy
It takes a lot of energy to heat the hydrogen bonds
It takes a lot of energy to break the hydrogen bonds between water
- when sweat evaporates it cools the skin
What is cohesion (water)?
Cohesion is the attraction between molecules of the same type
Water is very cohesive because it is polar
This helps water to flow - making it good for transport
Causes water to move as a mass
Why does waters polarity make it a good solvent?
Because water is polar, the slightly negative/positive ends will be attracted to the negative and positive ions
This means the ions will get totally surrounded and dissolve
Transports useful ions around the body
Why is water less dense when it is solid?
When water freezes the hydrogen bonds fix the position of polar molecules further apart in a
Giant
Open lattice structure
Allows ice to float
What are carbohydrates?
Molecules that contain oxygen, carbon and hydrogen
Can be broken down into glucose so that energy can be transferred to ATP through respiration
What is a monosaccharide?
A single sugar unit
Glucose, sucrose, galactose, ribose
What is a disaccharide?
Formed from 2 monosaccarides
G + G = maltose
G + S = fructose
G + G = lactose
What is a polysaccharide?
Polymers made of 2 or more monosaccharides
Glycogen, starch, cellulose
Glucose
Alpha
Beta
Alpha - c1 = c4
Beta - c1 / c4
CH2OH - c6
Glucose = polar and soluble in water - hydrogen bonds between hydroxyl group and water
Alpha glucose condensation
Glucose + glucose –> maltose + water
1,4 glycosidic bond
2 hydrogens and 1 oxygen is removed to form water
Glycosidic bonds
Amylose (poly alpha glucose)
Amylopectin
Glycogen (alpha)
Cellulose (beta)
1,4 (unbranched)
1,4 + 1,6
1,4 + 1,6
1,4 (unbranched)
What is a reducing sugar?
Saccharides that can donate electrons or reduce another molecule or chemical
Monosaccharides
Testing for carbohydrates (reducing sugars)
Benedicts test
- put liquid sample in boiling tube
- add equal volume of benedicts reagent
- heat in a boiling water bath for 5 mins
- reducing sugars react with copper ions - less blue colour
- blue green yellow red precipitate colour scale
Testing for carbohydrates (non-reducing)
- sucrose is boiled with dilute HCL
- hydrolysed it into fructose and glucose which are reducing sugars
- add equal volumes of Benedicts reagent
- boiling water bath
- colour precipitate
Iodine test for starch
- add drops of potassium iodine into the solution
- If starch is present solution changes from yellow/brown to purple/black
Using the colorimeter to measure the absorbante of light by a coloured solution
Filter added Calibrated with water Benedict's test Resulting solutions filtered The transmission percentage is measured Calibration curve plotted 3/6 repeated for unknown solution
What are lipids?
Hydrogen, carbon, oxygen
Group of large complex molecules with a large molecular weight
GLYCEROL + FATTY ACIDS
Functions of lipids (7)
Membrane formation Hormone production Electrical insulators Waterproofing Thermal insulation Cushions vital organs Buoyancy
What is a triglyceride?
Glycerol + 3 fatty acids
The hydroxyl groups interact creating 3 water molecules and ester bonds between the glycerol and fatty acids
What are saturated and unsaturated fatty acids?
Saturated = no double bonds - fats = solids, closer together
Unsaturated = double bonds - oils = kink so they can’t pack as close together
What are phospholipids?
Has a phosphate group covalently attached to third hydroxyl group of the glycerol replacing a fatty acid
Glycerol + phosphate group + 2 fatty acids