Biology: Carbohydrates Flashcards

Carbohydrates

• Carbohydrates are composed of three types: Monosaccharides, Disaccharides, and Polysaccharides.
• Monosaccharides have 1 monomer, disaccharides have 2 monomers, and polysaccharides have 3 or more monomers.
• The primary function of carbohydrates is short-term energy storage.
• The structure of carbohydrates is found in cell walls.
• Examples of carbohydrates include glucose, fructose, sucrose, lactose, and starch.
• Benedict's reagent and iodine are two lab tests used to identify carbohydrates.

Carbohydrate Structure

• Monosaccharides are 6-carbon or 5-carbon simple sugars, such as glucose and fructose.
• Monosaccharides have a hexagonal structure.
• Disaccharides are composed of two subunits, such as sucrose and maltose.
• Polysaccharides have hundreds of subunits, such as starch and glycogen.

Functions of Carbohydrates

• Starch is used for food storage in plants.
• Glycogen is used for food storage in animals.
• Cellulose is used for the cell wall of plants.

Lipids

• Saturated fat molecules have a straight structure with no tilt at the end.
• Unsaturated fat molecules have a tilt at the end.
• Triglycerides are molecules with three branches.
• Phospholipid molecules have a triangular structure with a cylinder on top.

Proteins

• The secondary structures of proteins are alpha helix and beta pleated sheets.
• Steroids have a polymer structure with beta pleated sheets.

Organic Molecules

• Organic molecules are synthesized by living things and are based on the element carbon.
• The four categories of organic molecules are carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.
• Monomers, such as monosaccharides, fatty acids, amino acids, and nucleotides, are the building blocks of organic molecules.
• Polymers are large molecules made up of repeating subunits called monomers.
• The structure of organic molecules determines their function.
• The four common characteristics of all organic molecules are that they contain carbon, are made of monomers, are polymers, and can be synthesized only by living things.