Biological Molecules: Key Terms (Cambridge International AS Biology)

The Two Forms of Glucose

Spec point — 2.2.1 · describe and draw the ring forms of α-glucose and β-glucose

• The most well-known carbohydrate monomer is glucose

• Glucose has the molecular formula C₆H₁₂O₆

• Glucose is the most common monosaccharide and is of central importance to most forms of life

• There are different types of monosaccharide formed from molecules with varying numbers of carbon atom, for example:

  • Trioses (3C) e.g. glyceraldehyde
  • Pentoses (5C) e.g. ribose
  • Hexoses (6C) e.g. glucose

• Glucose exists in two structurally different forms – alpha (α) glucose and beta (β) glucose and is therefore known as an isomer

  • This structural variety results in different functions between carbohydrates

Straight chain and ring structural formula of alpha & beta glucose

• Different polysaccharides are formed from the two isomers of glucose

Exam Hint You must be able to recognise and draw the isomer rings of α and β glucose.

Biological Molecules: Key Terms

Spec point — 2.2.2 · define the terms monomer, polymer, macromolecule, monosaccharide, disaccharide and polysaccharide

• The key molecules that are required to build structures that enable organisms to function are:

  • Carbohydrates
  • Proteins
  • Lipids
  • Nucleic Acids
  • Water

The key biological molecules for living organisms

• Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids contain the elements carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) making them organic compounds

• Carbon atoms are key to the organic compounds because:

  • Each carbon atom can form four covalent bonds – this makes the compounds very stable (as covalent bonds are so strong they require a large input of energy to break them)
  • Carbon atoms can form covalent bonds with oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur
  • Carbon atoms can bond to form straight chains, branched chains or rings

• Carbon compounds can form small single subunits called monomers, that bond with many repeating subunits to form large molecules called polymers, by a process called polymerisation

• Macromolecules are very large molecules

  • That contain 1000 or more atoms therefore having a high molecular mass
  • Polymers can be macromolecules, however not all macromolecules are polymers as the subunits of polymers have to be the same repeating units

Carbohydrates

• Carbohydrates are one of the main carbon-based compounds in living organisms
• All molecules in this group contain C, H and O
• As H and O atoms are always present in the ratio of 2:1(e.g. water H₂O, which is where ‘hydrate’ comes from) they can be represented by the formula C_x (H₂O)_y
• The three types of carbohydrates are monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides

Types of carbohydrate table

Exam Hint When discussing monomers and polymers, give the definition but also name specific examples e.g. nucleic acids – the monomer is a nucleotide.

You need to be able to define the terms monomer, polymer, macromolecule, monosaccharide, disaccharide and polysaccharide.