Biology Chapter on Large Biological Molecules

Questions and Answers

What are the 4 main classes of large biological molecules?

Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids

What is a polymer?

Smaller molecules that are chained together to make large molecules

What can break a polymer chain?

Hydrolysis

What are carbon-based molecules called?

Organic compounds Signup and view all the answers

What are monosaccharides?

They are the simplest carbohydrates; a simple sugar. Building blocks of disaccharides and polysaccharides Signup and view all the answers

What are hydrocarbons?

Compounds composed of only carbon and hydrogen Signup and view all the answers

What is a carbohydrate?

A class of molecules that range from dissolved sugar molecules to polysaccharides like starch molecules Signup and view all the answers

What is the formula that monosaccharides are a multiple of?

CH2O or (CH2O)n Signup and view all the answers

What is a disaccharide?

A sugar molecule consisting of 2 monosaccharides Signup and view all the answers

What are polysaccharides?

Polymers of monosaccharides linked together by dehydration reactions Signup and view all the answers

What are the 3 types of polysaccharides?

Starch, glucose, & cellulose Signup and view all the answers

What is starch?

A storage polysaccharide found in plants Signup and view all the answers

What is glycogen?

Excess sugar that is stored in an animal Signup and view all the answers

What is cellulose?

A large polysaccharide composed of many glucose monomers that provide structural support in a plant cell wall Signup and view all the answers

What types of molecules are fats and lipids?

Energy-storage molecules Signup and view all the answers

What are lipids?

Diverse compounds that are grouped together because they don't mix with water since they are hydrophobic Signup and view all the answers

What is a fat?

A large lipid made from two kinds of smaller molecules: glycerol & fatty acids Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of fat?

To store energy Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean for a fat to be unsaturated, and what do they do?

Having less than the maximum number of hydrogens and have a double bond in their carbon chain. Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean for a fat to be saturated, and what do they do?

It has a maximum number of hydrogens and becomes solid at room temperature. Signup and view all the answers

What are two important lipids with a variety of functions?

Phospholipids and steroids Signup and view all the answers

What is a protein?

A polymer constructed from amino acid monomers Signup and view all the answers

Where can structural proteins be found?

In the hair, skin, muscle, and catalase Signup and view all the answers

What is a polypeptide?

A chain of amino acids Signup and view all the answers

What is denaturation?

When polypeptide chains unravel, losing their specific shape and, as a result, their function Signup and view all the answers

The monomer of a carbohydrate is a ______.

monosaccharide Signup and view all the answers

The function of carbohydrates includes ______.

Short term energy storage and plant structure Signup and view all the answers

The element composition of carbohydrates is ______.

(CH2O)n Signup and view all the answers

Examples of carbohydrates include ______.

Sucrose, starch, cellulose, and glycogen Signup and view all the answers

The monomer of a lipid is ______.

Fatty acids Signup and view all the answers

The function of lipids includes ______.

Long term energy storage Signup and view all the answers

The element composition of lipids is ______.

C, H, O Signup and view all the answers

Examples of lipids include ______.

Triglyceride (fat), phospholipids, and steroids Signup and view all the answers

The monomer of a protein is ______.

Amino acids Signup and view all the answers

The function of proteins includes ______.

Animal structure & enzymes Signup and view all the answers

The element composition of proteins includes ______.

C, H, O, N (some S) Signup and view all the answers

Examples of proteins include ______.

Hair, skin, muscles, catalase Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Large Biological Molecules

Four main classes: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
Polymers consist of smaller recurring units called monomers.

Polymerization and Hydrolysis

Polymers are formed through dehydration reactions.
Hydrolysis is the reaction that breaks down polymers into monomers.

Organic Compounds

Carbon-based molecules are referred to as organic compounds.

Carbohydrates

Simplest carbohydrates are monosaccharides, serving as building blocks for larger carbohydrates.
Monosaccharide formula: CH2O or (CH2O)n; example: glucose (C6H12O6).
Disaccharides are sugars formed from two monosaccharides.
Polysaccharides are long chains of monosaccharides linked by dehydration reactions, such as starch, glycogen, and cellulose.
Starch acts as a storage polysaccharide in plants, while glycogen is the animal equivalent.
Cellulose provides structural support in plant cell walls.

Lipids

Lipids are hydrophobic compounds, meaning they do not mix with water.
Fats are large lipids composed of glycerol and fatty acids, primarily serving as energy-storage molecules.
Saturated fats contain the maximum number of hydrogen atoms and are solid at room temperature; examples include butter.
Unsaturated fats have fewer hydrogen atoms due to double bonds, remaining liquid at room temperature; examples include oils like olive oil and corn oil.
Important lipids with various functions include phospholipids and steroids.

Proteins

Proteins are polymers made from amino acid monomers.
Structural proteins are found in hair, skin, and muscle.
Polypeptides are chains of amino acids that fold into functional proteins.
Denaturation occurs when polypeptide chains unravel, losing their specific shape and function.

Summary of Monomers and Functions

Carbohydrates:
- Monomer: monosaccharide
- Function: short-term energy storage, plant structure
- Example: sucrose, starch, cellulose, glycogen
Lipids:
- Monomer: fatty acids
- Function: long-term energy storage
- Example: triglycerides (fats), phospholipids, steroids
Proteins:
- Monomer: amino acids
- Function: structural roles, enzymes
- Example: hair, skin, muscles, catalase

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Description

Explore the structure and function of large biological molecules, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. This quiz covers topics such as polymerization, hydrolysis, and the various forms of carbohydrates. Test your understanding of organic compounds and their significance in biological systems.