Chloe Troulan

The Building Blocks of Life Worksheet

Basic Chemistry

1. How many electrons are in the outermost energy level of carbon? How many does it need to
have this energy level filled?
- There are 4 electrons in the outermost energy level of carbon. It needs 8 to have this
energy level filled.
2. How many covalent bonds can carbon form?
- When full it can form 4 covalent bonds.
3. How many electrons are being shared in a single covalent bond? Double covalent bond? Triple
covalent bond? Quadruple covalent bond?
- A single bond is 1 pair which is 2 electrons. A double bond is 2 pairs which is 4 electrons. A
triple bond is three pairs which is 6 electrons. A quadruple bond is 4 pairs which is 8
electrons.

Organic Molecules

4. What is an organic compound?

- An organic compound is a compound that contains carbon and is found in living organisms.
5. Besides carbon, name 3 other elements that make up most organic compounds?
- Three other elements that make up most organic compounds are: Hydrogen, Oxygen and
Nitrogen.
6. Large carbon molecules are built from smaller, simpler molecules called ______________.
- Proteins
7. Large carbon molecules made of monomers are called ___________________.
- Polymers
8. What are large polymers called?
- Macromolecules
9. What type of reaction links monomers to make polymers?
- Dehydration Synthesis
 10. Sketch a molecule of sucrose (table sugar) formed from dehydration synthesis. Name the 2
sugars that were combined to form sucrose.

-
Fructose and Glucose used to make sucrose.

Carbohydrates

11. In what ratio are hydrogen and oxygen atoms in carbohydrates?

- Hydrogen and oxygen atoms in carbohydrates are in the ratio of 1:4 in straight chains and
1:6 in bent chains.
12. In what 3 forms do carbohydrates exist?
- The three forms that carbohydrates exist in are: monosaccharides, disaccharides and
polysaccharides.
13. What are the monomers of carbohydrates called? What is their common name? Give the ratio
of carbons, hydrogens and oxygens.
- The monomers of carbohydrates are called saccharides. Their common name is sugars.
14. Name the 3 most common monosaccharides.
- The three most common monosaccharides are: fructose, glucose and galactose.
15. Sketch and label a molecule of glucose.

-
16. What are double sugars called and name 2 examples?
- Double sugars are called disaccharides and 2 examples are: lactose and maltose.
 17. What forms a polysaccharide? Name a polysaccharide found in animals. Name 2 found in plants.
- Polymers of monosaccharides form a polysaccharide. A polysaccharide found in animals is
glycogen. Two polysaccharides found in plants are: cellulose and starch.

Lipids

18. Are lipids polar or nonpolar? What happens to lipids when they are placed in water?
- Lipids are nonpolar. When lipids are placed in water they
19. Compared to carbohydrates, what is true about the ratio of carbon and hydrogen atoms to
oxygen atoms?
- 2:1 ratio, hydrogen to carbon.
20. Which end of a fatty acid chain would dissolve in water? Which wouldn’t?
- The end of a fatty acid chain that would dissolve in water would be the tail and the end that
wouldn’t would be the head.
21. In what type of fatty acid are there only single bonds in the carbon chain? Name one such fatty
acid.
- The type of fatty acid that there are only single bonds in the carbon chain are saturated fatty
acids. One such fatty acid would be arachidic acid.
22. What makes up a triglyceride? What is the difference between a saturated and unsaturated
triglyceride?
- A triglyceride is made up of three hydrocarbons and a glycerol molecule. The difference
between saturated and unsaturated triglyceride is that a saturated triglyceride does not
have double bonds compared to an unsaturated triglyceride that does have double bonds.
23. What type of triglycerides tend to be solids at room temperature?
- The type of triglycerides that tend to be solids at room temperature are saturated
triglycerides.
24. What main part of a cell is made of phospholipids?
- The main part of the cell that is made of phospholipids is the cell membrane.
25. What are steroids?
- Steroids are organic compounds that include hormones and body secretions.

Proteins

26. What are the 4 main elements making up proteins?

- The four main elements making up proteins are: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen.
27. What are the monomers of proteins called? How many are there?
- The monomers of proteins are called amino acids. There are 20 different amino acids.
28. Long chains of amino acids are called ___________________ and these join together to make a
_________.
 - Long chains of amino acids are called polypeptides and these join together to make a
protein.
29. Hydrogen bonding among individual amino acids in a chain cause what effect on the proteins
shape?
- Hydrogen bonding among individual amino acids in a chain causes the proteins to coil and
unfold.
30. What is the effect of temperature on protein shape?
- The effect of temperature on protein shape is that the heat will weaken the hydrogen
bonds.
31. Most proteins act as catalysts or _____________ inside of cells.
- Enzymes