Study Questions: Carbon, Polymers

1. What element is the basis for so many organic molecules? What property of this element makes it able to do this?

2. Define hydrophilic and hydrophobic and give an example of a molecule or functional group that fits each description.

3. Name 3 polymers common in living organisms. What monomers are used to build each of them?

4. What reaction is the opposite of dehydration synthesis? How is it opposite?

5. Glucose and fructose are examples of ________.

6. Sucrose is made from __________ and ___________.

7. The main purpose of carbohydrates in the cell is _______________.

8. Name 4 common polysaccharides, their monomer, and in what group of organisms each polymer is found.

9. What is a lipid? What property is their main characteristic?

10. What are triglycerides? What are they used for by organisms?

11. What property of phospholipids makes them so useful in cells?

12. Name 2 other categoties of lipids and their uses.

13. List 7 different classes of proteins and their function.

14. What is the basis for the diversity of proteins in cells?

15. What is an amino acid? What purpose does the R group serve?

16. Define denaturation. What causes it?

17. Describe 4 levels of protein structure and the factors that determine each one.

18. Why are nucleic acids called the “information molecules”?

19. What are the parts of a nucleotide? Which part makes up the information referred to above?

Cells

20. What are the limitations to cell size, both on the smaller end and the larger end?

21. How do prokaryotic cells differ from eukaryotic cells?

22. What are pili and what is their function?