BUILDING BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES
Ball and Stick Models
Name:
For each molecule, draw a colored picture of the structure you built. Remember: carbons atoms usually like to stay together.
Date:
Period:
Hydrogen Peroxide - H2O2
Glycerol - C3H8O3
Produced as a byproduct in the body and will continue to build up and become
toxic to body if not broken down.
Forms backbone of fatty acids
Diatomic Oxygen – O2
Ammonia - NH3
Oxygen gas is produced by plants during photosynthesis. It is also used to
break down food to attain energy.
Plays a role in waste products.
Dihydrogen Monoxide - H2O
Butane – C4H10
Essential to the survival of all forms of life.
Often used as refrigerants. Lighter fluid.
Methane – CH4
Glucose - C6H12O6
Principal component in natural gas.
Produced by plants in photosynthesis. Used by all cells for cellular metabolism.
QUESTIONS: BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES
1. For each of the molecules below, write the number of atoms of each element in the formula. The subscripts indicate the number of each atom.
Sometimes, groups of atoms act as a single unit. This is called a radical. If a radical is used more than once, it is put in parentheses and the
subscript appears outside the parentheses. For example: (OH2)2 would consist of 2 oxygen and 4 hydrogen atoms.
Formula for Element
Hydrogen Peroxide - H2O2
Glycerol - C3H8O3
Calcium Carbonate – CaCO3
Ammonia - NH3
Number of Atoms
H=2 O=2
Aspirin – C9H8O4
Magnesium Hydroxide Mg(OH)2
Cellulose – C6H7O2(OH)3
Glucose - C6H12O6
Use
Byproduct in body
Backbone of fatty acids
Limestone
Waste Product of protein
breakdown
Pain Reliever, blood thinner
Found in milk of magnesia
Found in wood products.
Sugar made in photosynthesis
2. Which 4 elements do you think play the largest role in living organisms?
3. a. What are the fewest number of atoms needed to construct a molecule? Define the term molecule.
b. Provide an example of a molecule you made that is not a compound.
4. a. What is a compound?
b. Give an example of a compound you made.
5. a. Which element used in the activity seemed to be able to make the largest number of different compounds?
b. Why is this element a major component of organic (biological) molecules?
6. a. What is the difference between an ionic bond and a covalent bond?
b. What type of bond was formed in this lab?
7. a. What is a double bond? How many electrons are involved?
b. What is a triple bond? How many electrons are involved?
c. Which type of bond is the hardest to break?
8. a. Explain the “octet rule”?
b. Why is this concept important in chemical bonding?