Monomers and Polymers

Question 1

What is a monomer

Answer 1

Small repeating unit

Question 2

What is a polymer

Answer 2

Long chain of repeating unit monomers

Question 3

What is polymerisation

Answer 3

Where lots of monomers join together to form a long chain of monomers

Question 4

What is a macromolecule? Can polymers be macromolecules and vice versa?

Answer 4

A very large molecule (containing 1000 or more atoms)

Polymers can be macromolecules if long enough, but not all macromolecules are polymers because not all macromolecules have repeating units

Question 5

What is a covalent bond and how does it occur in polymerisation?

Answer 5

• When 2 or more electrons are SHARED between 2 atoms
• Strong
• When 2 monomers are close enough their valence electron shell overlaps so electrons ae shared

Question 6

What is a condensation reaction?

Answer 6

• Dehydration synthesis
• Monomers combine by covalent bonding forming a polymer
• A water molecule is removed

Question 7

What is hydrolysis?

Answer 7

• Covalent bonds in a polymer are broken by water
• Water is added

Question 8

Carbohydrate Functions :

Answer 8

• Energy source (glucose in respiration)
• Store of energy (Glycogen in muscles and liver)
• Structural importance (Cellulose in cell walls of plants)

Question 9

What chemicals make up each type of biological molecule?

Answer 9

Question on differences could include these

Carbs - C H O
Lipids - C H O (less O than in carbs)
Proteins - C H O N S
Nucleic Acids - C H O N P

Question 10

What are monosaccharides? Examples of monosaccharides? Functions?

Answer 10

Single sugar monomers, they are all reducing sugars.

Examples :
- Glyceraldehyde 3C
- Ribose 5C
- Glucose 6C

They are sources of energy in respiration and building blocks for polymers.

Question 11

What are disaccharides? Examples of disaccharides? Functions?

Answer 11

Sugar formed when 2 monosaccharides are joined by a GLYCOSIDIC bond in a CONDENSATION reaction.

Examples :
- Maltose (α + α glucose)
- Sucrose (α glucose + fructose)
- Lactose (α glucose + β galactose)

Maltose is in germinating seeds. Mammal milk sugar is lactose. Sucrose is stored in sugar canes.

Question 12

What are polysaccharides? What are some examples of polysaccharides? Functions?

Answer 12

Polymer of many monosaccharides joined by glycosidic bonds in condensation reactions.

Examples :
- Cellulose (β glucose)
- Starch (α glucose as amylose and amylopectin)
- Glycogen (α glucose)

Cellulose gives structural support in plant cell walls. Starch is a storage molecule for plants. Glycogen is a storage molecule in animals.

Question 13

Types of Lipids :

Answer 13

• Triglycerides (fats and oils)
• Phospholipids
• Waxes
• Steroids (cholesterol)

Question 14

Functions of Lipids :

Answer 14

• Energy source (respired, high energy yield)
• Energy store (Fat)
• Insulating layer (thermal insulation under skin, electrical insulation in nerve cells)
• Essential in biological membranes

Question 15

Proteins function

Answer 15

• Cell growth and repair
• Structural importance (collagen in bones, elastin in skin, keratin in hair)
• Carrier molecules in membranes (antibodies, enzymes, hormones)
• Transport proteins (across membranes in facilitated diffusion)

Question 16

Function of Nucleic Acids :

Answer 16

Carrying genetic code in living organisms.

Control proteinsynthesis.