Carbohydrates
What is a polysaccharide?
A long chain of monosaccharides.
Why are lipids hydrophobic?
Their hydrocarbon chains are nonpolar.
What is the monomer of proteins?
Amino acids.
What is the monomer of nucleic acids?
Nucleotides.
What is a monomer?
A small subunit that can join to form a larger polymer.
What type of glucose forms starch and glycogen?
Alpha-glucose
What two molecules form a triglyceride?
Glycerol + three fatty acids.
What bond links amino acids?
Peptide bond.
What three components make up a nucleotide?
Pentose sugar, phosphate group, nitrogenous base.
What is the monomer of carbohydrates?
Monosaccharides
Why does amylopectin have branching?
Increases accessibility for rapid energy release
What is the difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids?
Unsaturated have double bonds; saturated do not.
What determines the three-dimensional shape of a protein?
The sequence of amino acids (primary structure).
What type of reaction forms nucleic acid polymers?
Condensation forming phosphodiester bonds.
What type of reaction links monomers to form macromolecules?
Condensation reactions
What structural polysaccharide is made of beta-glucose?
Cellulose
Why do phospholipids form bilayers?
They are amphipathic (hydrophilic head + hydrophobic tails).
What type of protein structure includes α-helices and β-sheets?
Secondary structure.
What is the function of DNA?
Stores genetic information.
During condensation, what molecule is released?
Water
Why is cellulose so strong?
Beta-glucose chains form hydrogen-bonded microfibrils.
Why can steroid hormones diffuse through the membrane?
They are nonpolar lipids that pass easily through hydrophobic regions.
What happens during denaturation?
A protein loses its structure due to heat or pH changes.
Why are phospholipids not considered nucleic acids even though they contain phosphate?
They lack nucleotide structure and do not store genetic information.
What type of reaction breaks polymers into monomers?
Hydrolysis