All
Carbohydrates
contain the
elements Carbon,
Hydrogen and
Oxygen, in the
ratio of 2CH's to
1O.
Monosaccharides are glucose,
galactose and fructose [galactose
and fructose are isomers of glucose]
they are single sugars.
Isomer: Same molecular formula but
different structure. For example, for
monosaccharides the formula is
C₆H₁₂O₆ and the structures can be
shown in the diagram to the left
They are
hexose sugar
as they
contain 6
carbons.
Alpha Glucose
Structure
OH is a hydroxyl
group.
Disaccharides are maltose
[glucose+glucose], lactose
[glucose and galactose] and
sucrose [glucose and
fructose]. They are double
sugars and joined together by
a condensation reaction [loss
of water] and a glycosidic
bond is formed.
The H₂O is removed
and a glycosidic bond is
formed. [In chemistry
this is called an ether
bond]
Polysaccharides are starch [alpha glucose],
glycogen [alpha glucose] and cellulose [beta
glucose]. They are very long chained
molecules and are insoluble, therefore they do
not affect the water potential of a cell.
Starch is large
and insoluble,
helical in shape
so it is compact
and stores
energy.
Glycogen is large
and insoluble,
helical and
branched in
shape so it is
compact and
stores energy.
Cellulose is made from Beta
glucose [a flip in the hydroxyl
group], they are form long
straight chains called
microfibrils. They are linked
by hydrogen bonds which in
mass are very strong [cross
links] therefore they help
provide structural support.
Test for
Carbohydrates
Non-Reducing Sugar: Use
Benedict's Solution, heat
the mixture in a water
bath and add HCL and a
black-blue colour will be
present.
Reducing Sugar:
Use Benedict's
Solution, heat the
mixture in a
water bath and a
red-brown
colour will be
present.
Proteins
What makes each
individual amino
acid different is the
R Group.
Amino
Group
Carboxylic
Acid
Variable
Group [R]
Amino Acids are joined
together by a
condensation reaction.
Proteins have 4
structural levels:
Primary Structure is the
sequence of amino acids which
determines how it folds. It
contains peptide bonds between
amino acids. It looks like a chain
essentially.
Secondary Structure is the basic
level of folding held together by
hydrogen bonds, a Beta (β)
pleated sheet or an alpha (α) helix
is formed.
Tertiary Structure is the
overall globular structure
formed from the polypeptide
they contain hydrogen and
disulphide bonds. E.g. Enzymes
Quarternary structure is more
than one tertiary structure
attached together. They are also
insoluble and have structural or
storage roles. E.g. Collagen,
Insulin, and Haemoglobin
Proteins have a variety
of functions, including
enzymes, antibodies,
transport proteins and
structural proteins.
You conduct a Biuret Test
for proteins. Add a few
drops of biuret reagent to
the solution, if peptide
bonds [protein] the
solution will turn purple
or lilac.
Lipids
Triglycerides have
one molecule of
glycerol and three
fatty acids [made
from hydrocarbons].
Triglycerides are
formed by
condensation
reactions when fatty
acids bond with a
glycerol molecule
water [H₂O] is
produced and an ester
bond.
They are mainly used as
energy storage molecules and
are insoluble so they don't
affect water potential.
Fatty acids can
be unsaturated
and saturated.
Unsaturated have at least
one double bond between
carbon atoms which
causes the chain to kink.
They are liquid at room
temperature.
Saturated have no double bonds
between carbon atoms, they are
saturated with hydrogen atoms.
They form straight lines and are
solid at room temperature.
Phospholipids have a
phosphate head, a
glycerol molecule and
two fatty acids.
The phosphate group
is hydrophillic and the
fatty acid 'tails' are
hydrophobic, they
make up the
phospholipid bi-layer.
The centre is hydrophobic so water-soluble
substances can't easily pass through it.
The emulsion test is used
for lipids, grind or crush
the substance, adding
ethanol to the solution and
shaking then adding
distilled water and a
cloudy white precipitate
should be formed.
Introduction
Monomer - small unit
from which larger
molecules are made
E.g.
Monosaccharides,
amino acids and
nucleotides.
Polymer - are
molecules made
from a large
number of
monomers joined
together.