Biomolecules and Carbohydrates

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following chemicals is NOT considered a common biochemical component of organisms?

Sodium (correct)

Oxygen

Carbon

Nitrogen

What is the chemical formula for ammonia?

NH₃ (correct)

HCl

H₂O₂

CH₄

Which biomolecule is described as the most abundant organic compound and makes up over 75% of plant dry weight?

Lipids

Carbohydrates (correct)

Proteins

Nucleic acids

How does metabolism primarily utilize biomolecules?

To change food into energy Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best defines micronutrient deficiency?

Lack of essential nutrients needed for growth Signup and view all the answers

Anemia can be caused by a deficiency of which of the following micronutrients?

Iron Signup and view all the answers

What ratio do the majority of carbohydrates maintain regarding carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen?

1:2:1 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a function of carbohydrates in the human body?

Act as a storage form of fatty acids Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary component of lactose?

Glucose and galactose Signup and view all the answers

Which sugar alcohol is known to cause bloating and diarrhea when consumed in high amounts?

Sorbitol Signup and view all the answers

What type of carbohydrate is cellulose classified as?

Polysaccharide Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a common use for sucrose?

As a sweetener in foods Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true regarding mannitol?

It can be extracted from seaweed for food manufacturing. Signup and view all the answers

Among the disaccharides, which is considered the least sweet?

Maltose Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic does insoluble fiber, like cellulose, primarily provide?

Movement of food through the digestive system Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following fruits contains sugar alcohols?

Apple Signup and view all the answers

Which type of carbohydrate is primarily composed of multiple monosaccharides linked together?

Polysaccharides Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes aldoses from ketoses in terms of structure?

Aldoses contain an aldehyde group at the terminal carbon. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an example of a disaccharide?

Glucose Signup and view all the answers

What role do monosaccharides play in organisms?

They provide immediate energy. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about polymers is correct?

Polymers are large molecules composed of repeating monomer units. Signup and view all the answers

How are disaccharides formed from monosaccharides?

Through a condensation reaction releasing a water molecule. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is classified as a ketose?

Fructose Signup and view all the answers

Which monosaccharide is specifically noted for being a hexose?

Glucose Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of mRNA in protein synthesis?

It serves as a temporary copy of a gene. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements correctly describes the composition of RNA?

Composed of 4 nucleotides including uracil. Signup and view all the answers

What are purines in the context of nucleotides?

Nitrogenous bases with double-ring structures. Signup and view all the answers

What structural feature distinguishes RNA from DNA?

RNA typically is single-stranded. Signup and view all the answers

Which component is NOT a part of a nucleotide?

Amino acid Signup and view all the answers

Which hormone is primarily responsible for the development of secondary sex characteristics in males?

Testosterone Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of aldosterone in the body?

Regulates sodium and chloride reabsorption Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following properties is characteristic of waxes?

Extremely hydrophobic with high melting points Signup and view all the answers

What do estrogen and progesterone primarily regulate in the female reproductive system?

Ovulation cycle Signup and view all the answers

In addition to their role as hormones, what other significant roles do steroid hormones serve?

They are major components of bile salts and gallstones. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of lipids in organisms?

Long-term energy storage Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes saturated fats?

Typically solid at room temperature Signup and view all the answers

How do phospholipids contribute to the structure of cell membranes?

They create a bilayer with hydrophobic tails facing each other Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes unsaturated fats from saturated fats?

Unsaturated fats have fewer hydrogen atoms than saturated fats Signup and view all the answers

Which health issues are associated with high intake of saturated fats?

Increased risk of heart attacks Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic is NOT true about steroids?

They have a linear carbon chain structure Signup and view all the answers

What role does cholesterol play in the body?

It regulates metabolism and is deposited in organs Signup and view all the answers

What are the components of a triglyceride?

One glycerol and three fatty acids Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of glycogen in animals?

Energy storage Signup and view all the answers

Which polysaccharide is known to be a structural component in the cell walls of plants?

Cellulose Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes pectin from cellulose in terms of solubility?

Pectin is soluble while cellulose is insoluble. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a source of chitin?

Exoskeletons of crustaceans Signup and view all the answers

What type of polysaccharide is glycogen?

Branched Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic about cellulose is accurate?

It is one of the most abundant organic molecules. Signup and view all the answers

How does pectin contribute to digestive health?

By slowing digestion Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following polysaccharides is used in medicine and cosmetics?

Chitin Signup and view all the answers

What determines the specific properties of a protein's primary structure?

The sequence of amino acids Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the secondary structure of proteins?

It is characterized by hydrogen bonds forming shapes like alpha helices and beta sheets. Signup and view all the answers

In which type of protein structure do multiple polypeptide chains interact to form a functional unit?

Quaternary structure Signup and view all the answers

What is the composition of a nucleotide in nucleic acids?

A nitrogenous base, a five-carbon sugar, and one or more phosphate groups Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about RNA is correct?

RNA plays a role in encoding and decoding proteins. Signup and view all the answers

How do hydrophobic and hydrophilic R groups influence protein structure?

They play a critical role in stabilizing the tertiary and quaternary structures. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of protein structure is typically described as spherical or irregular?

Tertiary structure Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following proteins primarily consists of beta-pleated sheets?

Structural proteins like silk Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes each amino acid from one another?

The structure of the R group Signup and view all the answers

Which group of amino acids cannot be synthesized by the body?

Essential amino acids Signup and view all the answers

How do plants produce amino acids?

By converting soil nitrates Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of nonessential amino acids in the body?

To be synthesized by the body Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true regarding conditional amino acids?

They are needed during health crises or stress. Signup and view all the answers

What are the components that bind to the central carbon atom in an amino acid?

Amino group, carboxyl group, an R group, and a hydrogen atom Signup and view all the answers

Why are amino acids considered central compounds for life?

They play a crucial role in protein synthesis. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the role of the R group in amino acids?

It dictates the specific properties and functions of the amino acid. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Biomolecules

Biomolecules are large molecules necessary for life, built from smaller chemical components like carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur.
Examples of hydrogen-based molecules include water (H₂O), ammonia (NH₃), methane (CH₄), and table sugar (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁).
Biomolecules are often listed on nutritional labels.
Micronutrient deficiencies, like anemia caused by lack of iron, folate, or vitamin B12, can result from inadequate intake of essential vitamins and minerals.
Biomolecules are the fuel for metabolism - chemical reactions occurring in the body's cells that transform food into energy for bodily functions.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are abundant organic compounds, comprising over 75% of plant dry weight, primarily made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio.
Types of carbohydrates include:
- Monosaccharides (simple sugars) like glucose, fructose, and galactose.
- Disaccharides (two monosaccharides) like sucrose, lactose, and maltose.
- Polysaccharides (many monosaccharides) like starch, glycogen, and cellulose.

Monosaccharides

Monosaccharides are the building blocks of carbohydrates.
They are classified as either aldoses (aldehyde group) or ketoses (ketone group).
Examples include:
- Glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆): A key hexose (6-carbon sugar), vital for energy.
- Fructose (C₆H₁₂O₆): Found in fruit, honey, and sometimes processed foods.
Some important derivatives include ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and sugar alcohols (e.g., sorbitol).

Disaccharides

Disaccharides are formed by the condensation of two monosaccharides, releasing a water molecule.
Examples include:
- Sucrose: table sugar, a combination of glucose and fructose.
- Lactose: Found in dairy products, a combination of glucose and galactose.
- Maltose: Less sweet than the others, found in beer production, a combination of two glucoses.

Polysaccharides

Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates composed of many monosaccharides linked together.
Examples include:
- Cellulose: An insoluble fiber, structural component of plant cell walls, aids in food movement through the digestive system.
- Glycogen: A branched polysaccharide, serves as energy storage in animals and fungi.
- Pectin: A soluble fiber, found in fruits and vegetables, aids digestion.
- Chitin: A structural polysaccharide, found in insect exoskeletons and fungal cell walls, has antibacterial and antiviral properties.

Lipids

Lipids are hydrophobic biomolecules containing chains of hydrocarbons, important for long-term energy storage and insulation.
Types of lipids include:
- Triglycerides: Composed of glycerol and three fatty acids, can be saturated (single bonds) or unsaturated (double bonds). Saturated fats are solid at room temperature, while unsaturated fats are liquid.
- Phospholipids: Similar to fats but with a phosphate group, form the cell membrane's phospholipid bilayer. Hydrophobic tails face inward, hydrophilic heads face outward.
- Steroids: Complex lipids with fused carbon ring structures, help regulate metabolism, immune responses, and reproduction.

Proteins

Proteins are diverse biomolecules crucial for muscle growth, defense, metabolism, and other bodily functions.
They are composed of chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds.
The sequence of amino acids determines the protein's properties and functions.
There are four levels to protein structure:
- Primary structure: linear sequence of amino acids.
- Secondary structure: formed by hydrogen bonds, creating shapes like alpha helices and beta pleated sheets.
- Tertiary structure: three-dimensional structure formed by interactions between amino acid side chains, can be fibrous or globular.
- Quaternary structure: formed when multiple polypeptide chains interact via hydrogen bonds.

Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acids are large organic molecules composed of nucleotide units, each containing:
- A nitrogenous base (purines: adenine and guanine; pyrimidines: cytosine and thymine/uracil).
- A five-carbon sugar (ribose or deoxyribose).
- One or more phosphate groups.
Types of nucleic acids include:
- DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid): Contains deoxyribose sugar and four nucleotides (adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine), carries genetic information for cellular activities.
- RNA (Ribonucleic Acid): Contains ribose sugar and four nucleotides (adenine, guanine, cytosine, uracil), involved in encoding and decoding genetic information.
ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate): A special nucleotide, provides the highest-energy source in cells.

Hormones

Sex hormones:
- Testosterone: Male sex hormone, synthesized from cholesterol.
- Progesterone and Estrogen (Estradiol): Female sex hormones, synthesized from cholesterol.
Adrenocorticoid hormones:
- Aldosterone: Regulates sodium and potassium levels in the kidneys.
- Cortisol: A glucocorticoid, helps regulate energy metabolism and reduce inflammation.

Waxes

Waxes are hydrophobic esters made of alcohols and fatty acids, found in nature as protective coatings on plants and animals.
They are transparent, less viscous, and have a high melting point, providing waterproofing and protection.
Examples include cerumen (earwax), beeswax, and carnuba wax.

Essential, Nonessential, and Conditional Amino Acids

Essential amino acids cannot be produced by the body and must be obtained from the diet.
Nonessential amino acids can be synthesized by the body.
Conditional amino acids are usually nonessential but can become essential during illness or stress.

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Description

Explore the essential building blocks of life with this quiz on biomolecules and carbohydrates. Learn about their structures, functions, and how they contribute to nutrition and metabolism. Test your knowledge on various types of biomolecules and their significance in maintaining health.