Biomolecules and Carbohydrates Quiz

Biomolecules

• Molecules synthesized by living organisms containing carbon atoms.
• Other essential elements include oxygen (O), hydrogen (H), and nitrogen (N).
• Four common types: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleotides.

Carbohydrates

• Organic compounds with the ratio of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen as 1:2:1 (C(H2O)N).
• Composed of multiple hydroxyl groups, making them polar and water-soluble.
• Major groups: monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides.

Monosaccharides

• Simple sugars consisting of a single unit.
• Common examples: glucose, fructose, and galactose.

Glucose

• A crucial source of cellular energy.
• Chemical formula: C6H12O6.

Disaccharides

• Formed by the covalent bonding of two monosaccharides.
• Examples:
  • Glucose + Fructose = Sucrose
  • Galactose + Fructose = Lactose

Polysaccharides

• Carbohydrates created through the covalent bonding of multiple monosaccharides.
• Examples include glycogen, starch, and cellulose.

Glycogen

• A polymer made of glucose subunits found in animal cells.
• Allow cells to store glucose for later energy needs.

Starch

• A polysaccharide primarily found in plants.
• Digested by humans, providing glucose subunits as energy sources.

Cellulose

• A polysaccharide present in plants that humans consume but cannot digest.
• Known as dietary fiber, it passes through the gastrointestinal system undigested.

Lipids

• A diverse group of biomolecules mainly composed of carbon and hydrogen atoms linked by non-polar covalent bonds.
• Some may contain oxygen and phosphates, depending on structure; can have polar regions.
• Examples: triglycerides, phospholipids, eicosanoids, and steroids.

Amphipathic

• Molecules with both polar ("water-loving") and non-polar ("water-hating") ends.
• Facilitate interaction between polar and nonpolar molecules.
• Characteristic of detergents and phospholipid molecules in cell membranes.