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Indietro

Chapter 5

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  • What defines an organic molecule in biology?

    Organic molecules are built mostly from carbon atoms.

  • Which macromolecule class is NOT a true polymer?

    Lipids are not true polymers, unlike carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids.

  • What is a monomer and a polymer?

    A monomer is a single building block; a polymer is a chain of many monomers joined together.

  • What reaction builds polymers and what happens to water?

    Dehydration synthesis builds polymers by removing water (H2O).

  • What reaction breaks polymers and what happens to water?

    Hydrolysis breaks polymers by adding water (H2O) to split bonds.

  • What is the general formula for monosaccharides?

    Monosaccharides have the formula \((CH_2O)_n\), where n = 3 to 7.

  • What are the three main 6-carbon sugars?

    Glucose, fructose, and galactose all have the formula C6H12O6 but differ in atom arrangement.

  • How do glucose and galactose differ structurally?

    They are stereoisomers differing by the flipped position of an -OH group on carbon 4.

  • What distinguishes fructose from glucose and galactose?

    Fructose has a ketone group (C=O in the middle), while glucose and galactose have an aldehyde group (C=O at the end).

  • What is the difference between alpha and beta glucose?

    In alpha glucose, the OH on carbon 1 points down; in beta glucose, it points up.

  • Why does alpha vs. beta glucose matter biologically?

    It determines whether enzymes can break down polysaccharides like starch (alpha) or cellulose (beta).

  • What is a disaccharide?

    A disaccharide is two monosaccharides linked by a glycosidic bond.

  • Name the three common disaccharides and their monomers.

    Sucrose: glucose + fructose; maltose: glucose + glucose; lactose: glucose + galactose.

  • What is a glycosidic bond?

    A glycosidic bond is the covalent bond joining sugar monomers in disaccharides and polysaccharides.

  • How are disaccharides formed and broken down?

    Formed by dehydration synthesis (water removed), broken by hydrolysis (water added).

  • What are polysaccharides and their two main functions?

    Polysaccharides are long chains of monosaccharides used for energy storage or structural support.

  • What is starch and how is it used by plants and animals?

    Starch is a storage polysaccharide of alpha glucose in plants; animals digest it for energy.

  • What is cellulose and why can't humans digest it?

    Cellulose is a structural polysaccharide of beta glucose; humans lack enzymes to break beta linkages.

  • How do animals like cows digest cellulose?

    They rely on gut microorganisms that produce enzymes to break beta glycosidic bonds.

  • What is the significance of the 1–4 glycosidic linkage in starch and cellulose?

    Both have 1–4 linkages, but starch has alpha glucose all oriented the same way; cellulose has beta glucose alternating orientation.