Carbohydrates & Lipids Flashcards
Unit 2: Biomolecules (40 cards)
What does Carbon allow?
Carbon contains four electrons in is outer shell allowing it to form four covalent bonds with other elements
What bonds are the strongest?
Covalent Bonds! Carbon based molecules are very stable
Are carbon chains straight?
No! They aren’t due to bond angles
Define Carbohydrates
They are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen and have a general fomula of CH2O
Define Macromolecules
They have a very large number of atoms
How are macromolecules created?
They are created by linking together subunits called monomers.
What forms polymers?
Condensation Reactions!
Define condensation reactions
They are a reaction that links two molecules together and releases a smaller molecule.
What’s needed in the condensation reaction?
Energy (ATP)
Define polysaccharides
A condensation reactions that keep adding more and more monomer links
Example of a polysaccharides
Starch, glycogen and cellulose
Define glycosidic bonds
The bond that links the glucose (Glucose + Glucose + Glucose …)
What do deconstruction of polymers provide?
They can provide energy or to reuse parts for new construction
What deconstructs?
Hyrolysis reactions
What are monosaccharides?
Suagars with between 3 and 7 carbon atoms.
Charateristics of monosaccharides
They (especially glucose) are soluble so easy to transport
What’s created when monosaccharides are broken down?
ATP, useful as a quick energy source.
What happens to prevent dissolved glucose affecting osmolarity?
Lots of dissolved glucose increases osmolarity, so it is stored in glycogen (starch) which is not soluble.
What can alpha glucose molecules produce?
Alpha glucose molecules linked together can form starch (in plants) and glycogen (in animals)
What are two types of starch?
Amylopectin and amylose
Define tensile strength
Maximum stress that a material can withstand while being stretched or pulled before breaking
What are cellulose made up of?
They are made up of beta glucose
Functions of cellulose as a structural polysaccharides in plants?
They make up cell walls. Chemical nature gives it high tensil strength and provies support, does not burst even under high water pressures
What are glycoproteins used for
They are used for cell to cell recognition
