Author: FLVS
Last saved by: Talley, Trina

Biology Notebook: 01.02 The Chemistry of Life

Objectives:
•	Compare the structure and function of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids
•	Describe how enzymes regulate chemical reactions

Key Questions and Terms | Notes

Four main types of organic macromolecules:

1.
2.
3.
4.

What do all of these macromolecules have in common? |
Carbohydrates
Define polymer. |
Define monosaccharide and provide two examples. |
What do monosaccharides provide for cells? |
What is the basic formula for monosaccharides and how is the shape determined? |
Define disaccharide and provide two examples. |
Define polysaccharide and provide two examples. |
What accounts for the differences in the properties of the various polysaccharides? |
What is the monomer (single unit) that makes up the polysaccharides? |
Describe the structure and function starch. |
Describe the structure and function cellulose. |
Describe the structure and function glycogen. |
Describe the structure and function chitin. |
Lipids
Define hydrophobic. |

What are the three main categories of lipids?

1.	
2.	
3.

What are fat molecules made of? |
What is another name for fats? |
Why are fats important? |
How is the structure of phospholipids different from a fat? |
Define hydrophilic. |
How does that change the relationship that phospholipids have to water? |
Describe the structure of steroids. |
What are some examples of steroids and their functions? |
Proteins
What are proteins made of? |
What gives proteins its unique properties? |

Choose three protein examples and describe its functions.

1.
2.
3.

Describe the structure of an amino acid. What part of the amino acid makes each one unique? |
What is the function of catalysts, like enzymes? |
Why are temperature and pH important to enzymes? |
What are 2 examples of things that can inhibit the way that an enzyme works? |
What can happen to an enzyme that will cause it to no longer function properly? |
Nucleic Acids
What are nucleic acids? |

What are the 2 main types of nucleic acids?

1.
2.

What does DNA contain and where is it found? |
Why is RNA important? |
What does a chain of nucleotides bonded together form? |

What are the three main components nucleotides?

1.
2.
3.

Describe a DNA molecule and its shape. |
Why are DNA and RNA important? |

Name of Macromolecule | Carbohydrates | Lipids | Proteins | Nucleic Acids

Monomer
(name of base unit)

Properties | | | |

Functions
(what it does)

Examples | | | |

Sample Questions: 

The building blocks of a carbohydrate are:
A.	Fatty acids
B.	Nucleotides
C.	Monosaccharides
D.	Amino acids

Lipids are very diverse in regards to function.  Which of the following is NOT a function of a lipid?
A.	Insulation
B.	Structural support
C.	Provide energy
D.	Control metabolic functions