Biological Molecules Flashcards
(22 cards)
What is a monomer?
Small units which are components of larger molecules
What is a polymer?
Molecules made from many monomers joined together
What reaction joins monomers together?
Condensation reaction
What is a condensation reaction?
A reaction which joins a chemical bond with the loss of a water molecule
What is hydrolysis?
A reaction that breaks a chemical bond with the use of a water molecule
What molecules/elements make up carbohydrates?
Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
What is a Carbohydrate?
Long chains of sugar units with the name saccharides
What is a monosacharide?
The monomers from which larger carbohydrates are made.
What is a disaccharide?
A pair of monomers
What is a polysaccharide?
Multiple monosacharides joined together
What joins monosacharides, disaccharides or polysaccharide?
A glycosidic bond formed in a condensation reaction
What is the main substrate for respiration?
Glucose
Difference between alpha and beta glucose.
Alpha glucose: The hydrogen and OH groups are parallel
Beta glucose:The hydrogen and OH groups are opposite eachother
Features of monosacharides
-Sweet
- soluble
- general formula = (CH2O)n
What disaccharide is made from two glucose molecules?
Maltose
What disaccharide is made from glucose and fructose?
Sucrose
What disaccharide is made from glucose and galactose?
Lactose
What polysaccharides are formed by the condensation of alpha glucose?
-Glycogen
-Starch
What polysaccharides are formed by the condensation of beta glucose?
Cellulose
What glycosidic bonds are in Glycogen?
1,4 & 1,6 glycosidic bonds
Water is a solvent therfore…
Allowing gases to readily diffuse as well as enzymes and waste products (ammonia & urea)
Why does water have a high specific heat capacity?
The water molecules stick together with hydrogen bonds, requiring a lot of energy to break the bonds. (Helps to minimise temperature fluctuations in living things therefore acting as a buffer)
