3.3 Bio Content

Question 1

What are carbohydrates?

Answer 1

Carbohydrates (sugars) are macromolecules that play roles in energy, cell structure, and cell recognition.

Question 2

What are the three types of carbohydrates?

Answer 2

Monosaccharides (one sugar), Disaccharides (two sugars), Polysaccharides (many sugars).

Question 3

What is the general molecular formula for carbohydrates?

Answer 3

(CH2O)n

Question 4

Why are carbohydrates hydrophilic?

Answer 4

Because they contain polar carbonyl and hydroxyl groups.

Question 5

What suffix do sugar names usually end with?

Answer 5

They usually end in ‘-ose’.

Question 6

What distinguishes one monosaccharide from another?

Answer 6

The location of the carbonyl group, number of carbon atoms, spatial arrangement of atoms, and ring forms.

Question 7

What is an aldose?

Answer 7

A sugar with the carbonyl group at the end of the carbon chain.

Question 8

What is a ketose?

Answer 8

A sugar with the carbonyl group in the middle of the carbon chain.

Question 9

What are the common monosaccharides?

Answer 9

Glucose, galactose, and fructose.

Question 10

What is a glycosidic linkage?

Answer 10

A covalent bond formed between two sugars during condensation reactions.

Question 11

What are disaccharides?

Answer 11

Two monosaccharides joined by a glycosidic linkage.

Question 12

Give examples of disaccharides.

Answer 12

Maltose (2 glucose), Sucrose (glucose + fructose), Lactose (glucose + galactose).

Question 13

What are polysaccharides?

Answer 13

Polymers of monosaccharide monomers that can be branched or unbranched.

Question 14

What are the two types of glycosidic linkages?

Answer 14

α-1,4 and β-1,4 glycosidic linkages.

Question 15

What is starch made of?

Answer 15

α-glucose monomers that form a helix; includes amylose and amylopectin.

Question 16

What is glycogen?

Answer 16

A highly branched α-glucose polymer used by animals to store energy in liver and muscles.

Question 17

What is cellulose?

Answer 17

A β-glucose polymer forming plant cell walls with β-1,4-glycosidic linkages and hydrogen bonds between strands.

Question 18

What is chitin?

Answer 18

A structural polymer in fungi cell walls and arthropod exoskeletons made of N-acetylglucosamine (NAG).

Question 19

What is peptidoglycan?

Answer 19

A structural polymer in bacterial cell walls with β-1,4 linkages and peptide bonds between strands.

Question 20

What are the main functions of carbohydrates?

Answer 20

Energy storage, structural support, cell identity, and serving as precursors to larger molecules.

Question 21

What are glycoproteins and glycolipids?

Answer 21

Carbohydrates attached to proteins or lipids involved in cell recognition and signaling.

Question 22

How do plants store energy?

Answer 22

Plants store energy as starch (α-glucose polymer).

Question 23

How do animals store energy?

Answer 23

Animals store energy as glycogen in liver and muscles.

Question 24

What happens when glucose is broken down?

Answer 24

Energy is captured and used to make ATP.

Question 25

Why do carbohydrates have high potential energy?

Answer 25

Because C–C and C–H bonds share electrons equally, storing more energy.