Macromolecules and Monomers Quiz

Polymers and Macromolecules

• A polymer is a large molecule composed of many smaller units called monomers.
• Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids are examples of macromolecules.
• There are four main types of monomers: sugars, amino acids, fatty acids, and nucleotides.

Carbohydrates

• Most carbohydrates have a carbon-hydrogen-oxygen ratio of 1:2:1 (CH2O).
• Monosaccharides are simple sugars with a carbon backbone of 3-7 carbons.
• Examples of monosaccharides include glucose (hexose sugar), fructose (found in fruits), and galactose (found in milk).
• Disaccharides are formed by combining two monosaccharides, such as maltose (glucose + glucose), sucrose (glucose + fructose), and lactose (glucose + galactose).

Complex Carbohydrates

• Polysaccharides are long polymers composed of many subunits, including starch, glycogen, and cellulose.
• Starch and glycogen are used for energy storage in plants and animals, respectively.
• Cellulose is a structural polysaccharide found in plant cell walls and is indigestible by humans.

Lipids

• Lipids are hydrophobic molecules that are insoluble in water.
• Triglycerides (fats and oils) are used for long-term energy storage in animals and plants.
• Phospholipids form membranes and separate environments, while steroids function as sex hormones.
• Fats are solid at room temperature, while oils are liquid.

Fats and Oils

• Triglycerides are composed of a glycerol unit and three fatty acid molecules.
• Fats are emulsified by bile in the intestines, and the liver produces bile.
• Fatty acids are hydrocarbon chains with an acidic group (-COOH) and contain 16 or 18 carbon atoms.

Phospholipids and Steroids

• Phospholipids have a phosphate group and are the primary components of cellular membranes.
• Steroids have a backbone of four fused carbon rings, and cholesterol is a precursor for other steroids like bile salts, estrogen, and testosterone.