Polysaccharides

Question 1

Monomer definition?

Answer 1

A molecule that can be bonded to other molecules to form a polymer, subunit, building blocks, small structure

Question 2

Polymer definition?

Answer 2

Molecules made from a large number of monomers joined together

Question 3

What is a condensation reaction?

Answer 3

Joins two molecules together with a chemical bond which involves the elimination of a water molecule

Question 4

Polysaccharide function and structure?

Answer 4

Polysaccharides are polymers, combined long chains of monosaccharides, they are very large ( thousands of monomers ) and thus insoluble in water, they are suitable for storage or structural support can be hydrolysed into disaccharides and monosaccharides

Question 5

What is hydrolysis?

Answer 5

The chemical breakdown of a compound due to reaction with water

Question 6

Starch structure?

Answer 6

Storage of polysaccharides, polymer of alpha - glucose, starch in plants, starch is composed of amylose ( more of a chain ) and amylopectin ( more of a branched structure )

Question 7

Glycogen structure?

Answer 7

Found in animal cells, with molecules similar to amylopectin ( 1,4 and 1,6 ), used for a boost in energy in the body

Question 8

Amylose structure?

Answer 8

has one long chain because there is only one bond ( glycosidic bonds ) , carbon 1 and carbon 4

Question 9

Amylopectin structure?

Answer 9

Has branched chains, with different bonding, carbon 1 and 4, as well as 1 and 6

Question 10

List 5 similarities between glycogen and amylopectin?

Answer 10

Both have branched chains
Have the same carbon bonds ( 1,4 and 1,6 )
Both are large
Both are polymers and polysaccharides
Composed of alpha glucose

Question 11

What are the benefits of starch and glycogen being highly branched?

Answer 11

Can quickly remove the glucose to be used in respiration

Question 12

What is one advantage of storing starch rather than glucose in potato cells?

Answer 12

Starch is insoluble whereas glucose isn’t, can fit more energy into a smaller space with the coils

Question 13

Give similarities and differences in the structure of starch and glycogen?

Answer 13

Glycogen is from animals, starch from plants
All made from alpha glucose
Glycogen has more branches
Amylose of starch has is a spiral

Question 14

Cellulose Structure?

Answer 14

Cellulose is found in the cell wall of plant cells, is a polymer made from beta glucose, which only has one type of bond ( 1,4 ), which results in alternating rotated glucose molecules meaning every second glucose flips upside down, matching the hydroxyl group, resulting in straight chains ( cellulose molecules ) which then pile up on top of one another, in between the chains there are hydrogen bonds, ( formed between the oxygen and hydrogen ), this is called microfibril formation.

Question 15

Glycoprotein structure?

Answer 15

Are proteins with sugar molecules attached, acting as recognition sites and antigens ( flags on the surface of our cells which allows our body to detect which cells are our own and which are foreign )

Question 16

Glycogen structure?

Answer 16

Found in animal cells, with molecules similar to amylopectin ( 1,4 and 1,6 ), used for a boost in energy in the body, has more branches, made from alpha glucose, the structure means it can easily lose glucose for respiration

Question 17

Lipids structure?

Answer 17

Contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, insoluble in water, soluble in organic solvents ( e.g alcohol ). Groups of lipids include, triglycerides ( fats and oils ), phospholipids, ( non glyceride lipids ) waxes and steroids

Question 18

Triglyceride structure?

Answer 18

Are non - polar and subsequently hydrophobic ( doesn’t mix with water ), they have a high number of carbon hydrogen bonds, meaning they are excellent energy stores. Lipids are a more suitable long term energy store than carbohydrates.