Question 1

Which of the following best describes the difference between a monomer and a polymer?

Accepted Answer

A monomer is a single building block that can be linked with others to form a polymer via covalent bonds.

Question 2

During the synthesis of a disaccharide from two glucose molecules, which type of reaction occurs and what is released?

Accepted Answer

Dehydration synthesis; water is released.

Question 3

Which enzyme would most likely catalyze the breakdown of starch into glucose monomers in the human digestive system?

Accepted Answer

Amylase

Question 4

A patient is unable to digest lactose. Which enzyme is most likely deficient in this individual?

Accepted Answer

Lactase

Question 5

Which of the following statements about hydrolysis reactions is correct?

Accepted Answer

Hydrolysis reactions break polymers into monomers and release energy.

Question 6

Which of the following is the general formula for carbohydrates?

Accepted Answer

$C_nH_{2n}O_n$

Question 7

Cellulose and starch are both polymers of glucose. What structural difference allows cellulose to be used for plant cell walls, while starch is used for energy storage?

Accepted Answer

Cellulose has $\beta$ 1-4 glycosidic linkages, making it linear and strong, while starch has $\alpha$ 1-4 and $\alpha$ 1-6 linkages, making it helical and branched.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

They contain one or more double bonds, causing kinks that prevent tight packing.

Question 9

A food manufacturer wants to convert a liquid vegetable oil into a solid fat for use in baked goods. Which chemical process would they use, and what is a potential health risk associated with the product?

Accepted Answer

Hydrogenation; production of trans fats that may raise LDL cholesterol

Question 10

Which of the following statements about phospholipids is correct?

Accepted Answer

Phospholipids have two fatty acid tails and a phosphate group, making them amphipathic.

Question 11

Which of the following best describes the role of enzymes in macromolecule metabolism?

Accepted Answer

Enzymes lower the activation energy, speeding up hydrolysis and dehydration reactions.

Question 12

Which of the following is a correct match between a macromolecule and the enzyme that breaks it down?

Accepted Answer

Proteins – Peptidase

Question 13

A triglyceride is formed by joining three fatty acids to a glycerol backbone. What type of reaction is this, and how many water molecules are released?

Accepted Answer

Dehydration synthesis; three water molecules are released

Question 14

Which of the following is a characteristic of essential fatty acids?

Accepted Answer

They must be obtained from the diet because the body cannot synthesize them.

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

They increase LDL cholesterol and decrease HDL cholesterol, raising the risk of heart disease.

Question 16

Which of the following is a correct description of the amphipathic nature of phospholipids?

Accepted Answer

They have both hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails, allowing them to form bilayers in water.

Question 17

Which of the following is a function of cholesterol in animal cells?

Accepted Answer

It is a component of cell membranes and a precursor for steroid hormones.

Question 18

A scientist is studying a polysaccharide that is highly branched and serves as an energy storage molecule in animals. Which polysaccharide is she most likely studying?

Accepted Answer

Glycogen

Question 19

Which of the following best describes the difference between cis and trans unsaturated fatty acids?

Accepted Answer

Cis fatty acids have hydrogens on the same side of the double bond, causing a kink; trans fatty acids have hydrogens on opposite sides, resulting in a straighter chain.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

The breakdown of dietary starch into glucose during digestion.

Macromolecules I: Structure, Synthesis, and Hydrolysis

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