Macromolecules Worksheet

Explain the versatility of carbon in molecule formation by its electron configuration and the kinds and numbers of
bonds carbon will form. Carbon can form four covalent bonds (single, triple, double) because it has 4 valence
electrons = covalent compatibility with many elements.
Which of the following compounds would contain a double bond?
a. C3H8 b. C2H6 c. CH4 d. C2H4 e. C2H2

IDENTIFYING FUNCTIONAL GROUPS: Circle the functional group(s) and write the functional group name(s) on the
first line. Then write the chemical formula on the second line.
Carboxyl

1. Hydroxyl 2.

Carbonyl Carboxyl

3. 4.

BUILDING A MACROMOLECULE:
Explain the relationship between monomers and polymers and explain how these molecules are related to the
“unity and diversity of life.”
Monomers are small molecules that make up polymers.
The many variations/ways that monomers can be
arranged allows for the unity and diversity of life.

Explain how monomers are linked together and how they are disassembled (include an illustration of each
process) H
HO
Monomers are linked together through a process called dehydration synthesis. It

is called this because when the monomers are bonded together, a water molecule is Dehydration Synthesis

extracted. They are disassembled through hydrolysis (water molecule added).

Use the diagram below and then answer the following questions. HO H

HO H

Hydrolysis

H
HO

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 Top row
1. What are the reactants? ____________________________________
Bottom row
2. What are the products? _____________________________________
3. Is the reaction a condensation reaction or hydrolysis?
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4. Circle the peptide bonds. How many peptide bonds are present?_____
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5. How many molecules of water are produced in order to form the peptide bonds?__________
6. If a protein contained 200 peptide bonds, how many molecules of water do you suppose would be required to
200
break it down into its components? ___________
1:1
7. What is the ratio of molecules of water to the number of peptide bonds? __________

Macromolecule properties

Complete the following chart

Class Monomer Functions

Carbohydrates Monosaccharide energy storage, structure,

spare protein/fat, stores glucose
in muscle/liver
Lipids glycerol and fatty acids Energy storage, membranes
and steroids

Proteins enzymes, hormones,

amino acids
movement,
antibodies, storage
Nucleic Acid Nucleotides stores genetic information and
produces proteins

ts 5.2-5.4

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The following questions are based on the 15 molecules illustrated below. Each molecule may be used once, more
than once, or not at all.

1) Which of the following molecules are structural isomers?

A) 1 and 4 B) 5 and 14 C) 6 and 12
D) 12 and 13 E) 14 and 15
Answer: A Skill: Compr
2) Which of the following combinations could be linked together to form a nucleotide?
A) 1, 2, and 11 B) 3, 7, and 8 C) 5, 9, and 10
D) 11, 12, and 13 E) 12, 14, and 15
Answer: D
3) Which of the following molecules contain(s) an aldehyde type of carbonyl functional group?
A) 1 B) 4 C) 8 D) 10 E) 1 and 4 er: E

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4) Which of the following molecules is (are) a carbohydrate?
A) 1 and 4 B) 6 C) 12
D) 5 and 14 E) all of the above
Ans
5) Which of the following molecules is a saturated fatty acid?
A) 1 B) 5 C) 6 D) 8 E) 9
Answ
6) Which of the following molecules is a purine type of nitrogenous base?
A) 2 B) 3 C) 5 D) 12 E) 13
Answer: E Topic: Concept 5.5
7) Which of the following molecules act as building blocks (monomers) of polypeptides?
A) 1, 4, and 6 B) 2, 7, and 8 C) 7, 8, and 13 D) 11, 12, and 13 E) 12, 13, and 15
Answer:
8) Which of the following molecules is an amino acid with a hydrophobic R group or side chain?
A) 3 B) 5 C) 7 D) 8 E) 12
Answer: C
9) Which of the following molecules could be joined together by a peptide bond as a result of a dehydration
reaction?
A) 2 and 3 B) 3 and 7 C) 7 and 8 D) 8 and 9 E) 12 and 13
Answer: C
10) A fat (or triacylglycerol) would be formed as a result of a dehydration reaction between
A) one molecule of 9 and three molecules of 10.
B) three molecules of 9 and one molecule of 10.
C) one molecule of 5 and three molecules of 9.
D) three molecules of 5 and one molecule of 9.
E) one molecule of 5 and three molecules of 10.
Answer: B
11) Which of the following molecules could be joined together by a phosphodiester type of covalent bond?
A) 3 and 4 B) 3 and 8 C) 6 and 15
D) 11 and 12 E) 11 and 13
Answer: D Comprehension
12) Which of the following molecules is the pentose sugar found in RNA?
A) 1 B) 4 C) 6 D) 12 E) 13
Answer: D
13) Which of the following molecules contains a glycosidic linkage type of covalent bond?
A) 4 B) 6 C) 12 D) 13 E) 15
Answ

14) Which of the following molecules has (have) a functional group that frequently is involved in maintaining the
tertiary structure of a protein?
A) 2 B) 3 C) 9 D) 11 E) 9 and 11
Answer: A
15) Which of the following molecules consists of a hydrophilic "head" region and a hydrophobic "tail" region?
A) 2 B) 5 C) 7 D) 9 E) 11
Answer: B
16) Which of the following statements is false?
A) 1 and 4 could be joined together by a glycosidic linkage to form a disaccharide.
B) 9 and 10 could be joined together by ester bonds to form a triacylglycerol.
C) 2 and 7 could be joined together to form a short peptide.
D) 2, 7, and 8 could be joined together to form a short peptide.
E) 14 and 15 could be joined together to form a polypeptide.
Answer: E

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 carboxyl
R group group
Proteins

Draw and explain the structure of an amino acid. Explain how it is possible for proteins to vary extensively when
there are only 20 naturally occurring amino acids and what determines this variety.
-center is alpha carbon, four diff partners of carbon are
an amino group, carboxyl group, hydrogen atom, and variable group amino

symbolized by a R (side chain, differs with each, allows for variations) group
What is a peptide? What is a polypeptide?
-peptide: short chain between 2-50 amino acids linked by peptide bonds
-polypeptide: polymers of amino acids made up of chains of amino acids
Explain the functions of proteins in the cell and include an example of each type.
A. Structural
-support, maintain cell shape, ex) silk fibers for insects/spiders cocoons/webs, collagen/elastin provide fibrous framework in animal connective tissues
B. Storage
-storage of amino acids, ex) Casein (protein of milk) source of AA for baby mammals, plants have storage proteins in seeds
C. Transport
- transport of other substances, ex) hemoglobin transports oxygen from lungs -> other parts of the body, other proteins transport molecules across cell membrane
D. Defensive
-protection against disease, ex) antibodies combat bacteria and viruses
E. Enzymes
-selective acceleration of chemical reactions (catalysts), regulate metabolism, ex) digestive enzymes catalyze hydrolysis of polymers in food
F. Movement
-contractile and motor proteins, fulfill muscle contraction/movement, ex) actin/myosin are responsible for the movement of muscles
G. Receptors
-response of cell to chemical stimuli ex) receptors built into the membrane of a nerve cell detect chemical signals released by other nerve cells

Describe the different levels of protein structure in detail.

Primary: unique sequence of amino acids, like the order of letters in a long word, determined by inherited genetic information
Secondary: segments of polypeptide chain that are repeatedly coiled/folded in patterns that contribute to protein's overall
conformation due to hydrogen bonds in backbone, 2 types : alpha helix (backbone coils around imaginary axis in clockwise) and beta
sheet (polypeptide backbone is nearly fulled extended and R groups are pointed above then below extended backbone)
Tertiary: overall shape of polypeptide resulting from interactions between side chains of various amino acids
Quaternary: arises when a protein consists of 2 or more polypeptide chains
Explain denaturation and list things that can cause it. ex) transferred from aqueous -> organic solvent,
denaturation: when a protein loses its native conformation if hydrogen/ionic bonds/disulfide bridges are
causes: change in chemical/physical environment, changes disrupted by chemicals, or if it experience
Lipids in temp., pH, salt concentration, e.t.c excessive heat
Draw the structure of a typical fat consisting of three fatty acids and one glycerol molecule. This molecule is called H O

a triglyceride. H C O C R1
O
H C O C R2
fatty acid + glycerol joined by ester linkage (bond between hydroxyl group and carboxyl group) O
H C O C R3
Explain why the structure of phospholipids are ideal for the structure and function of the cell membrane.
H
at surface of cell they are arranged in bilayer, hydrophilic heads are on the outside (touching aqueous solutions inside/outside cell), hydrophobic
tails point toward interior of bilayer (away from water), phospholipid bilayer -> boundary between cell and external environment
-major component of all cell membranes
Explain why people tend to store more fat with age.
lipid turnover in the fat tissue decreases during aging and makes it easier to gain weight

Define a saturated fatty acid. Provide one example of a saturated fatty acid. ex) butter

-structure of hydrocarbon chains of fatty acids are "saturated" with hydrogens @ room temp. the molecules are

-the absence of carbon double bonds allows the maximum # of hydrogen atoms to bond to the carbon skeleton packed closely together = solid

Define an unsaturated fatty acid. Provide one example of an unsaturated fatty acid.
-contains 1+ double bonds formed by the removal of hydrogen atoms from the carbon skeleton ex) olive oil
-kink in its hydrocarbon chain wherever cis double bond occurs = molecules cannot pack close together enough to solidify due to kinks
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 Define a polyunsaturated fatty acid.
type of unsaturated fatty acid with more than one double bond

Draw, label, and describe the structure of a phospholipid. Include the head region, the tail region, hydrophobic
region, and hydrophilic regions -hydrophobic tails choline
-2 fatty acids attached to glycerol
-third hydroxyl group of glycerol joined to (kink in tail is due to double bond)

phosphate group (negative charge) -hydrophilic head

Draw the structure of a typical steroid. phosphate group

hydrophilic head

glycerol

hydrophobic tail
Describe the function of steroids.
-lipids w/ carbon skeleton of 4 fused rings, signals molecules, highly concentrated energy stores unsaturated FA
-ex) cholesterol (precursor from which others are synthesized) = produces many hormones &
decreases membrane fluidity

Each of the following structural formulas shows a fatty acid molecule. On the line, identify the fatty acid as
saturated, unsaturated, or polyunsaturated.

saturated
1.______________________

polyunsaturated
2._____________________

unsaturated
3._____________________

Nucleic Acids

Explain the two types of nucleic acids (DNA, RNA) by their structure, characteristics and functions.

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 Explain the structure and pairing of the nucleotides of nucleic acids.
nucleic acids: polynucleotides, long chainlike molecules composed of a nitrogenous base, pentose, and phosphate group
-nucleotides are organized through base pairing: adenine with thymine (DNA)/uracil(RNA) and guanine with cytosine

Draw and label a picture of a nucleotide. phosphate

nitrogenous base
5-carbon

sugar

Explain the relationship between nucleic acids and proteins.

amino acid sequence of a polypeptide is programmed by genes which consist of DNA (polymer belonging to nucleic acid)
Carbohydrates

What elements make up a carbohydrate? What ratio are these always found in?
Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen : CH2O
Describe a carbohydrate. What is the function of carbohydrates?
-made up of monomers called monosaccharides -polysaccharides are the macromolecules
-serve as fuel and building materials -carbon skeletons serve as raw material for synthesis of other types of small
-contain carbon skeleton chains molecules like animo acids
What is a disaccharide? Draw the reaction of two glucose molecules that combine to form maltose (draw the
structures)
-two monosaccharides joined by a glycosidic linkage (covalent bond
formed between two monosaccharides by a dehydration synthesis)
What are polysaccharides? Describe the structure and function of starch, cellulose, and glycogen.
-macromolecules / polymers with a few hundred to a Starch: storage polysaccharide for plants, glucose monomers (alpha config), Cellulose:major component of tough plant wall
few thousand monosaccharides joined by glycosidic polymer = helical/branched, glycosidic linkages between 1 and 4 carbon cells, polymer of glucose in beta config, straight
not branched, stimulates
linkages Study the diagrams below, which show carbohydrate molecules. Beside each molecule, write whether it is a
lining to secret mucus,
monosaccharide, a disaccharide, or a polysaccharide.
because diff structure (beta)

humans cannot digest

monosaccharide disaccharide Glycogen: polymer of glucose,

1._______________________ 2._________________________
branched, stored in liver/muscle

cells, hydrolysis releases glucose

when demand for sugar ^, stored fuel

polysaccharide
3.________________________________

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4. What is the function of #1 in our bodies?
carbohydrate used as energy (galactose, different from glucose because of the placement of the OH and H groups)
5. What is the function of #3 in our bodies?
(maltose) found in starchy grains, vegetable, fruits; used as energy;

6. What is the name of the chemical process that joined the disaccharide and the polysaccharide?
condensation reaction/ dehydration synthesis

Part A. Classify each as a carbohydrate, protein, lipid or nucleic acid(only used once).

1. carbohydrate Starch 9. carbohydrate Polysaccharide

2. lipid Cholesterol lipid

10.__________________ Phospholipid

3. lipid Steroid 11. nucleic acid DNA & RNA

carbohydrate
4. Glycogen 12. carbohydrate Monosaccharide
protein carbohydrate
5. enzyme 13. Cellulose
protein
6. lipid saturated fat 14. amino acid

protein lipid
7. polypeptide chain 15. unsaturated fatty acid

8. carbohydrate Glucose

Part B. Identify the specific molecule (use the above terms) for each description. Some terms may be used more
than once. Nucleic acid is used only once.
lipids/fats - glycogen
16. provides long-term energy storage for animals

carbohydrates - sugar/glucose
17. provides immediate energy

lipids - steroid
18. ______________________________sex hormones

19. nucleic acid - DNA/RNA stores hereditary information

20. proteins - polypeptide chains animal and plant structures

lipids - phospholipids
21. forms the cell membrane of all cells

proteins - enyzmes
22. speeds up chemical reactions by lowering activation energy

carbohydrate - monosaccharide
23. one sugar

amino acids
24. monomer of proteins

carbohydrate - starch
25. provides long-term energy storage for plants

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26. lipid - cholesterol steroid that makes up part of the cell membranes
lipid
27. ______________________________ soluble only in hydrophobic solvents
carbohydrate - glucose
28. provides short-term energy storage for animals
carbohydrate - polysaccharide
29. many sugars

carbohydrate - cellulose
30. forms the cell wall of plant cells

Part C. Which specific molecule (saturated fat, unsaturated fat, protein, glucose, starch, cellulose) is each food
mostly made of?

saturated fat cellulose

31. butter 39. celery

32. cellulose spinach 40. saturated fat cream

protein glucose
33. beef jerky 41. cranberries
protein protein
34. bacon 42. egg white

starch glucose
35. noodles 43. table sugar

36. glucose orange juice 44. starch popcorn

protein protein
37. cheese 45. lobster
starch unsaturated fat
38. wheat 46. sesame oil

Part D. State whether each is found in animals, plants or both.

47. animals saturated fat 53. both glucose

both both
48. protein 54. enzyme
both both
49. steroid 55. polysaccharide
both animals
50. amino acid 56. glycogen
both plants
51. monosaccharide 57. starch
plants both
52. cellulose 58. phospholipid

Part E. Which food molecule (monosaccharide, polysaccharide, lipid, protein) would you eat if…

monosaccharides
68. …you needed a quick boost of energy?

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69. …you wanted to grow strong nails? protein

protein
70. …you haven’t eaten in days?
protein
71. …you wanted to grow healthy hair?

polysaccharide
72. …you had a race tomorrow afternoon?
lipid/fat
73. …you were getting ready for hibernation?
protein
74. …you wanted to get bigger muscles?
lipid/fat
75. …your next meal will be in a week?

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