Carbohydrates and Lipids Flashcards

Flashcards covering the form, function, and chemical properties of carbohydrates and lipids, including their roles in energy storage, cell structure, and cell recognition.

What is the role of a covalent bond in forming diverse carbon compounds?

A covalent bond involves the sharing of electrons between atoms, allowing carbon to form up to four single bonds or combinations of single and double bonds with other atoms, leading to structural diversity.

What are the components of organic compounds, and how do they contribute to chemical reactivity?

Organic compounds are composed of hydrocarbons and functional groups. Functional groups exhibit specific patterns of chemical reactivity due to their structure.

How are macromolecules produced from monomers?

Macromolecules are produced through condensation reactions, where monomers combine, releasing a water molecule as a byproduct.

Describe the process of digesting polymers into monomers.

Polymers are digested into monomers through hydrolysis reactions, where water molecules are split to provide -H and -OH groups, breaking the bonds between monomers.

What are the properties of monosaccharides, and how do they relate to their functions?

Monosaccharides are soluble, transportable, chemically stable, and can yield energy through oxidation. These properties enable them to dissolve in aqueous solutions, be easily transported, store energy, and provide energy for ATP production.

How do plants and animals store energy using polysaccharides?

Plants store excess glucose as starch (amylose and amylopectin), while animals store it as glycogen. Both starch and glycogen are insoluble in water, making them effective energy storage compounds.

How is the structure of cellulose related to its function in plants?

Cellulose is composed of ß-glucose monomers arranged in linear chains, with alternating orientations that allow for cross-linking hydrogen bonds, resulting in strong cellulose fibers providing structural support in plant cell walls.

What role do glycoproteins प्ले in cell-cell recognition, giving an example?

Glycoproteins play a crucial role in cell-cell recognition, for instance, in determining ABO blood groups by modifying antigens on red blood cells.

Why are lipids hydrophobic?

Lipids are hydrophobic due to the abundance of non-polar C–H covalent bonds in their hydrocarbon chains and rings, which overshadow any polar functional groups.

How are triglycerides and phospholipids formed?

Triglycerides are formed when one glycerol molecule links to three fatty acid molecules through ester bonds via condensation reactions. Phospholipids are formed when one glycerol molecule links to two fatty acid molecules and one phosphate group through ester bonds via condensation reactions.

Distinguish between saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats.

Saturated fatty acids have no C=C bonds and are solid at room temperature. Monounsaturated fatty acids have one C=C bond and are liquid at room temperature. Polyunsaturated fatty acids have two or more C=C bonds, and their melting points depend on the configuration of the double bonds.

How do triglycerides function in energy storage and thermal insulation?

Triglycerides store twice as much energy per gram as sugars and are insoluble, making them suitable for long-term energy storage. They also act as thermal insulators by trapping heat, aiding in thermoregulation.

How do phospholipids form bilayers, and why?

Phospholipids form bilayers due to their amphipathic nature, with hydrophilic phosphate heads facing the aqueous environment and hydrophobic hydrocarbon tails facing each other, reducing unfavorable interactions with the cytosol.

Why can non-polar steroids pass through the phospholipid bilayer?

Non-polar steroids can pass through the phospholipid bilayer because they are lipophilic and can dissolve in the hydrophobic core of the membrane.

What is the role of non-polar steroids?

Non-polar steroids can pass through the phospholipid bilayer of cells and change gene expression to lead to a certain cellular response.

What prefixes are associated with which multiplicative factors?

nano: 1 x 10^-9, micro: 1 x 10^-6, milli: 1 x 10^-3, centi: 1 x 10^-2, deci: 1 x 10^-1, deca: 1 x 10^1, hecto: 1 x 10^2, kilo: 1 x 10^3, mega: 1 x 10^6, giga: 1 x 10^9