Amino Acids & Natural Polymers

What are amino acids?

Organic molecules containing both an amine group and a carboxylic acid group.

What are the two functional groups found in amino acids?

–NH₂ and –COOH.

What are proteins?

Natural polymers formed from amino acid monomers.

How do amino acids join together?

Through condensation reactions.

What bond links amino acids in proteins?

A peptide bond, which is an amide linkage.

What small molecule is released when two amino acids join?

Water.

What is a polypeptide?

A chain of amino acids joined by peptide bonds.

Why are proteins considered condensation polymers?

Amino acids join through condensation reactions that release water.

What is the difference between an amino acid and a protein?

An amino acid is a monomer, while a protein contains many amino acid units.

What are DNA and RNA?

Natural polymers made from nucleotide monomers.

What are the monomers of DNA?

Nucleotides.

What are the monomers of RNA?

Nucleotides.

What are the main components of a nucleotide?

A sugar, phosphate group and nitrogen-containing base.

What are starch and cellulose?

Natural polymers made from sugar units.

What is the monomer of starch?

Glucose.

What is the monomer of cellulose?

Glucose.

Why is cellulose important in plants?

It provides strength and support to plant cell walls.

Why is starch important in plants?

It acts as an energy store.

Why are natural polymers important to living organisms?

They provide structure, energy storage and biological functions.