Name
Class
MACROMOLECULES WORKSHEET
1. What are the definitions for a polymer and a monomer?
Monomer:
Polymer:
2. Draw a polymer containing its 7 or more monomers. Use pentagons as a
monomer, and label which is a monomer and which is a polymer.
3. Complete the table below. (Remember that mono means one and poly means
many).
Macromolecule
Carbohydrates:
Simple
carbohydrates
Carbohydrates:
Complex
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins
Nucleic Acids
Food example
Monomer
Polymer
Approximate
C:H:O ratio
4. Which of the compounds above can often be composed of C, H and O alone?
5. Which of the compounds above can be identified by looking at the C, H and O
rations alone?
CARBOHYDRATES
1. What is the definition of a carbohydrate, and what are the functions of
carbohydrates in both plant and animal cells?
2. What is the basic structure of a carbohydrate?
3. What is the chemical test we used in the CSI Forensics Lab for identification of a
simple sugar (Reducing Sugar, mono- or di-saccharide)?
4. What is the chemical test we used in the CSI Forensics Lab for identification of a
polysaccharide?
5. Name two simple monosaccharides
6. Draw the structure of glucose
7. Name two disaccharides commonly found in living organisms.
8. What is the name of the bond that joins two monosaccharide monomers
together?
9. What is the name of the reaction that joins two monosaccharide molecules
together?
10. What is the name of the reaction that breaks the bond between two
monosaccharide units?
11. Name three polysaccharides commonly found in living organisms?
12. What is starch used for in animals and plants?
13. What is cellulose used for in animals and plants?
14. What is glycogen used for and where is it located in the body?
LIPIDS
1. What is the definition of a lipid?
2. What are the most important types of lipids found in living organisms?
3. What is the basic structure of a lipid? – draw it
4. What is the chemical test we used in the CSI Forensics Lab to identify lipids?
5. What is the name of the reaction that joins the basic components of a lipid
together?
6. What is the name of the bond that joins the basic components of a lipid
together?
7. Are lipids soluble in water? Why or why not?
8. What is the difference between a saturated and an unsaturated fat, and how
does this dictate the structure and form of these two types of lipid?
9. Draw a phospholipid and explain its function in living organisms
10. Name 4 key uses of fats and oils in living organisms
11. Compare the energy per gram and the digestibility of lipids and carbohydrates
PROTEINS
1. Define proteins and their function
2. What is an amino acid (monomers joined via dehydration synthesis)
3. How is a peptide bond formed?
4. What are the main uses of proteins in cells (plants and animals)??
1. What is the definition of a protein?
2. What is the chemical test we used in the CSI Forensics Lab for identification of a
protein?
3. What proportion of the dry mass of a cell is protein
4. Draw the general structure of the amino acid monomers used to make protein
polypeptides
6. How many amino acids are there, and how do they differ, one from the other?
7. What type of bond joins amino acids in a protein? Draw this bond and draw the
process through which it is formed
8. What are the four levels of protein structure? Draw each level in the box below
9. Explain the significance of the primary structure
10. Explain the significance of the secondary structure
11. Explain the significance of the tertiary structure
12. Explain the significance of the quaternary structure
13. What does it mean to denature a protein? Give two examples
NUCLEIC ACIDS
1. Define, compare and give examples of the two types of nucleic acids (structure,
location and function).
2. What are the main uses of nucleic acids in cells (plants and animals)??
1. List two key functions of nucleic acids
2. What are the two nucleic acids found in living cells?
3. List the three ‘ingredients’ of a nucleotide and draw a nucleotide
A.
B.
C.
4. List the two types of sugar found in nucleic acids, and their corresponding
polymer.
DNA sugar……………………………………….
RNA sugar…………………………………………
5. List the four bases used to synthesise DNA
A.
B.
C.
D.
6. List the four bases used to synthesis RNA
A.
B.
C.
D.
7. What type of reaction joins the nucleotide monomers together to form a
polynucleotide?
8. What sort of bond occurs between the complementary base pairs of the double
helix structure in DNA?
Elements commonly found in macromolecules
Always
contain P
Generally
contain no P
Always
contain N
Generally
contain no N
Frequently
contain S
Generally
contain no S
Carbohydrates
No
Proteins
No
Nucleic Acids
Yes
Yes
No
No
Lipids
No (except for
phospholipids)
Yes (except for
phospholipids)
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes