Question 1

Which of the following best describes the difference between a dehydration synthesis reaction and a hydrolysis reaction in the context of macromolecules?

Accepted Answer

Dehydration synthesis forms new covalent bonds between monomers by removing water, while hydrolysis breaks covalent bonds by adding water.

Question 2

Which enzyme would most likely catalyze the breakdown of a starch molecule in the human digestive system?

Accepted Answer

Amylase

Question 3

A student is analyzing a molecule with the formula $C_{6}H_{12}O_{6}$. Which class of macromolecule does this molecule most likely belong to?

Accepted Answer

Carbohydrate

Question 4

Which of the following statements about polysaccharides is correct?

Accepted Answer

Polysaccharides are long chains of monosaccharides joined by glycosidic linkages.

Question 5

Which of the following best explains why saturated fats are solid at room temperature while unsaturated fats are liquid?

Accepted Answer

Saturated fats have straight hydrocarbon chains that pack tightly, while unsaturated fats have kinks due to double bonds that prevent tight packing.

Question 6

A triglyceride is formed by joining three fatty acids to a glycerol backbone. What type of reaction is responsible for this process, and what is released as a byproduct?

Accepted Answer

Dehydration synthesis; water is released

Question 7

Which of the following is a correct example of a disaccharide and its component monosaccharides?

Accepted Answer

Sucrose: glucose + fructose

Question 8

Cellulose and starch are both polymers of glucose. What structural difference accounts for their different properties?

Accepted Answer

Cellulose has $\beta$-1,4 glycosidic linkages, while starch has $\alpha$-1,4 glycosidic linkages.

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the amphipathic nature of phospholipids in biological membranes?

Accepted Answer

Phospholipids have a hydrophilic head and two hydrophobic tails, allowing them to form bilayers in aqueous environments.

Question 10

A food scientist is testing a new spread made from plant oils. The product is solid at room temperature, even though plant oils are usually liquid. Which process most likely explains this observation?

Accepted Answer

The plant oils have been hydrogenated, converting some cis double bonds to trans double bonds, resulting in trans fats.

Question 11

Which of the following statements about enzymes is correct?

Accepted Answer

Each class of macromolecule is broken down by a specific enzyme or group of enzymes.

Question 12

Which of the following best describes the role of essential fatty acids in human health?

Accepted Answer

They are required in the diet because the body cannot synthesize them.

Question 13

A patient is diagnosed with high levels of cholesterol. Which class of macromolecule does cholesterol belong to, and what is its basic structure?

Accepted Answer

Lipid; four fused hydrocarbon rings

Question 14

Which of the following is a correct general formula for carbohydrates?

Accepted Answer

$C_{n}H_{2n}O_{n}$

Question 15

Which of the following best explains why trans fats are considered unhealthy compared to cis fats?

Accepted Answer

Trans fats can increase LDL cholesterol in humans, contributing to heart disease.

Question 16

Which of the following is a correct description of the process of hydrolysis?

Accepted Answer

Hydrolysis breaks a polymer into monomers by adding a water molecule.

Question 17

Which of the following is a real-life example of a hydrolysis reaction in the human body?

Accepted Answer

Digestion of starch into glucose by amylase in the mouth

Question 18

Which of the following statements about waxes is correct?

Accepted Answer

Waxes are lipids that provide waterproofing for plants and animals.

Question 19

A researcher is studying a molecule that contains a carbonyl group at the end of a carbon chain and is composed of three carbons. Which type of monosaccharide is this molecule?

Accepted Answer

Triose

Question 20

Which of the following best explains why enzymes are necessary for hydrolysis and dehydration synthesis reactions in living organisms?

Accepted Answer

Enzymes allow these reactions to occur at body temperature by lowering the activation energy.

Macromolecules I: Structure, Function, and Synthesis in Biology

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