Topic 1: Biological Molecules:
1.1-Monomers and polymers:
Monomers and polymers:
o Monomers are small units which are the components of larger molecules, examples
include monosaccharides such as glucose, amino acid
...
Topic 1: Biological Molecules:
1.1-Monomers and polymers:
Monomers and polymers:
o Monomers are small units which are the components of larger molecules, examples
include monosaccharides such as glucose, amino acids and nucleotides
o Polymers are molecules made from many monomers joined together
o Monomers are joined by a chemical bond in a condensation reaction whereby a
water molecule is eliminated
o Hydrolysis is the opposite of a condensation reaction and is when water is added to
break a chemical bond between two molecules
1.2-Carbohydrates:
Carbohydrates:
o Carbohydrates are molecules which consist only of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen and
they are long chains of sugar units called saccharides
o A single monomer is called a monosaccharide with a pair of monomers being called
a disaccharide
o Combining many monosaccharides results in the formation of a polysaccharide
o These are all joined together with a glycosidic bond formed in a condensation
reaction
o Monosaccharides:
Glucose is a monosaccharide containing six carbon atoms in each molecule,
and is the main substrate for respiration and therefore of great importance
It has two isomers – alpha and beta glucose with structures being seen
below
Common monosaccharides include glucose, galactose and fructose
These are typically sweet tasting, soluble substances which have the general
formula (CH2O)n where n can any number from three to seven
o Disaccharides:
Two monosaccharides can join together in a condensation reaction to form a
disaccharide
In this process a molecule of water is produced
The diagram below shows the formation of a 1,4 glycosidic bond between
two alpha glucose molecules in order to form a molecule of maltose
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