Carbohydrates, Monomers, Polymers, and Lipids - Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering core terms related to carbohydrates and lipids from the lecture notes.

Monomer

The single building block that links together to form polymers.

Polymer

A large molecule made by stringing together many monomers in a specific pattern.

Glucose

A six-carbon sugar that is the monomer for cellulose, plant starch, and glycogen.

Monosaccharide

A simple sugar; the basic unit of carbohydrates.

Disaccharide

Two monosaccharides joined together (e.g., sucrose, lactose, maltose).

Polysaccharide

A polymer made up of many monosaccharide units (e.g., starch, glycogen, cellulose).

Cellulose

Plant structural carbohydrate built from glucose units; beta linkages make it indigestible to humans.

Plant starch

Glucose-based polymer in plants; linear (amylose) and branched (amylopectin); digestible energy storage.

Glycogen

Animal storage polysaccharide of glucose; highly branched, with many ends for rapid release.

Chitin

Polymer of modified glucose (N-acetylglucosamine); structural carbohydrate in fungi and arthropods.

Isomer

Compounds with the same chemical formula but different arrangement of atoms.

Hexose

A six-carbon monosaccharide (e.g., glucose, fructose).

Sucrose

Disaccharide formed from glucose and fructose; common table sugar.

Maltose

Disaccharide made of two glucose molecules.

Fructose

Six-carbon monosaccharide; a hexose isomer of glucose with a different arrangement.

Carbohydrate

Organic compound consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; includes sugars and starches.

Saccharide

Another term for sugar; refers to monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides.

Monoglyceride

Glycerol with one fatty acid attached.

Diglyceride

Glycerol with two fatty acids attached.

Triglyceride

Glycerol with three fatty acids; the main storage form of fat in animals.

Phospholipid

Lipid with two fatty acid tails and a phosphate group attached to glycerol; key membrane component.

Glycerol

Three-carbon backbone of triglycerides and phospholipids.

Fatty acid

Hydrocarbon chain with a carboxyl group; component of fats and lipids.

Saturated

Fatty acids with no double bonds; fully hydrogenated; straight chains that pack tightly.

Cis fatty acid

Fatty acid with hydrogens on the same side of a double bond; creates a kink.

Trans fatty acid

Fatty acid with hydrogens on opposite sides of a double bond; tends to pack tightly and can be produced artificially.

Lactose

Milk sugar; disaccharide composed of glucose and galactose.