biologically important compounds

What is a homopolymer

Monomer with two different functional groups at terminal carbon (eg. Carboxylic Acid + Amine)

What is a copolymer/heteropolymer

Monomer with two of the same functional groups at terminal carbon

What are Proteins?

Organic polymer made from amino acids by condensation polymerisation

2-Amino Acids

- Amine group bonded to the carbon next to the carboxylic acid
- H2N-CH(R)-COOH

Properties of R Groups in Amino Acids

- non-polar
- polar
- acids or proton donors (COOH)
- bases or proton acceptors (NH2)

Dipeptide

- two amino acid molecules undergoing condensation reactions together
- carboxyl group reacts with amine group to form amide group (CONH) and water

Carbohydrates

- have the general formula Cx(H2O)y
- eg. Glucose, Cellulose, Starch

What are monosaccharides

- The smallest form of carbohydrates
- Glucose, fructose, galactose (isomers)
- Contain polar hydroxyl groups so are soluble in water

What are disaccharides (3)

- carbohydrates formed from the reaction between two monosaccharide molecules
- Condensation reaction occurs between the hydroxyl functional groups, forming water as a by product
- Monosaccharides joined together by an oxygen atom (glycosidic link/ether functional group)

Polysaccharides

- thousands of monosaccharide units
- insoluble in water

What is Starch?

- Polymerised Glucose Molecules with glycosidic links between each glucose molecule
- Produces many water molecules as by product

How is starch used by plants

plants can break the starch back down into glucose to be used as an energy source to maintain its functions

Linear Starch Polymer

Amylose

Amylopectin

Starch with Glucose branches every 20-24 glucose units

Solubility of Amylopectin vs Amylose in water

- Amylose coil and pack together tightly with OH groups away from contact with water, so largely insoluble
- Amylopectin’s branching exposes more OH groups so that it dissolves in water

Starch with Glucose branches every 7-11 glucose units

Glycogen

Saturated Fatty Acids

- Contain only single carbon bonds
- C(n)H(2n+1)COOH

Monounsaturated Fatty Acids

one carbon-carbon double bond in their hydrocarbon chain
- C(n)H(2n-1)COOH

Polyunsaturated fatty acids

more than one carbon-carbon double bond in their hydrocarbon chain