Hon Bio Unit 4: Biofuels - Biomolecules

Energy

the ability to do work, including building complex molecules

product

A substance produced in a chemical reaction

pH

System for measuring the strength of different acids and bases

Lipid

macromolecule made mostly from carbon and hydrogen atoms; includes fats, oils, and waxes

Protein

An molecule that is made of one or more chains of amino acids

Carbohydrates

An organic molecule made up of one or more sugars. one-sugar is called a monosaccharide; multiple linked sugars is called a polysaccharide.

nucleic acids

Organic molecules made up of linked nucleotide subunits; examples DNA and RNA

Macromolecules

A very large organic molecule composed of many smaller molecules

Polymer

A long molecule consisting of many similar or identical monomers linked together.

Monomer

A simple compound whose molecules can join together to form polymers

Monosaccharides

Single sugar molecules (monomer of carbohydrate)

fatty acids

chains of carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms that make up lipids

amino acids

monomers of proteins

covalent bond

A chemical bond that involves sharing a pair of electrons between atoms in a molecule

dehydration synthesis

Condensation reaction where molecules are connected by loss of a water molecule.

Hydolysis

Breaking down complex molecules by the chemical addition of water

Glycerol

Combines with fatty acids to make lipids.

organic molecules

contain backbone structures of carbon with hydrogen and oxygen