Question 1

Which of the following is NOT considered a biological polymer, and why?

Accepted Answer

Lipids, because they are composed of different components rather than repeating monomers.

Question 2

What is the general formula for carbohydrates, and what does the ratio represent?

Accepted Answer

$$C_nH_{2n}O_n$$; the ratio 1:2:1 represents the proportion of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms.

Question 3

Which of the following is a monosaccharide with five carbons?

Accepted Answer

Ribose

Question 4

A glycosidic linkage is formed between two monosaccharides by which type of reaction?

Accepted Answer

Dehydration reaction, which removes a water molecule.

Question 5

Which polysaccharide provides structural support in plant cell walls?

Accepted Answer

Cellulose

Question 6

Why can't humans digest cellulose?

Accepted Answer

Humans lack the enzymes to hydrolyze the beta linkages in cellulose.

Question 7

Which of the following is a function of lipids in living organisms?

Accepted Answer

Energy storage, insulation, and protection

Question 8

What is the main difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids?

Accepted Answer

Unsaturated fatty acids contain one or more double carbon bonds, while saturated fatty acids contain only single bonds.

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the structure of a triglyceride?

Accepted Answer

A glycerol backbone attached to three fatty acids

Question 10

Phospholipids are essential for cell membranes because:

Accepted Answer

They have hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails, forming a bilayer that separates cell interior from exterior.

Question 11

Which part of a phospholipid is hydrophilic?

Accepted Answer

The phosphate head

Question 12

Steroids differ from other lipids because they:

Accepted Answer

Have a carbon skeleton with four fused rings

Question 13

Which of the following is a function of carbohydrates in living organisms?

Accepted Answer

Energy storage and providing structural elements

Question 14

Which of the following is a polysaccharide found in the exoskeletons of arthropods and cell walls of fungi?

Accepted Answer

Chitin

Question 15

What type of bond links fatty acids to glycerol in a triglyceride?

Accepted Answer

Ester bond formed by a dehydration reaction

Question 16

Which of the following molecules would you expect to be solid at room temperature and why?

Accepted Answer

Saturated fatty acids, because they have only single bonds allowing tight packing.

Question 17

Which of the following is a simple sugar (monosaccharide)?

Accepted Answer

Glucose

Question 18

A student is shown a chemical structure with a carbon backbone and multiple hydroxyl ($$-OH) $$groups. What type of molecule is this most likely to be?

Accepted Answer

A carbohydrate

Question 19

Which of the following best explains why phospholipids form bilayers in water?

Accepted Answer

Their hydrophilic heads interact with water while hydrophobic tails avoid water.

Biological Macromolecules: Carbohydrates and Lipids

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