Biomolecules, Carbohydrates, and Lipids

Vocabulary flashcards covering biomolecules, their chemical elements, functional groups, reactions, carbohydrates, and lipids.

Main Biomolecules

The four primary biomolecules found in food: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Micronutrients

Nutritional components in food that assist in metabolism and starting reactions.

Core Biomolecule Elements

Carbon ($C$), hydrogen ($H$), and oxygen ($O$), which are present in every single biomolecule.

Additional Biomolecule Elements

Nitrogen ($N$) and phosphorus ($P$), which are found in some biomolecules.

Carbohydrates

Biomolecules composed of $C$, $H$, and $O$ that function in providing energy and cellular communication.

Sugar Alcohol Functional Group

The hydroxide ($OH$) functional group found in carbohydrates, which gives them a polar nature due to oxygen.

Monosaccharides

The monomers of carbohydrates (such as glucose) that can exist in linear or ring forms and in many different forms.

Starch

A plant complex carbohydrate (polymer) with a linear structure and few branches.

Glycogen

A highly branched animal complex carbohydrate (polymer) stored in the bloodstream, liver, and muscle tissue.

Cellulose

A plant complex carbohydrate (polymer) composed of long glucose strands held together by hydrogen bonds.

Dehydration Reaction

A chemical reaction used for building molecules by pulling $H_2O$ out.

Hydrolysis Reaction

A chemical reaction used for breaking down molecules by pulling $H_2O$ in, such as during digestion.

Lipids

A class of biomolecules composed of $C$, $H$, and $O$ that includes fats, oils, steroids, and waxes.

Lipid Subunits

Glycerol and fatty acids (which can be saturated or unsaturated) that make up fats and oils.

Lipid Functional Groups

Carboxylic acid ($\text{C}=\text{O}$, $\text{C}-\text{OH}$) and hydroxide ($\text{OH}$) groups found in lipids.

Phospholipids

A key class of lipids essential for cell membranes, formed by removing a fatty acid tail and adding a phosphate group.

Steroids

A category of lipids that function in cellular signaling.

Waxes

A category of lipids responsible for water maintenance, particularly in plants.