Name:_____________________
Macromolecule Study Guide Key
What are the 3 types of Macromolecules we are looking at in class?
Proteins, Carbohydrates and Nucleic Acids
What atom is fundamental in the formation of macromolecules?
Carbon
What is about carbon that makes it suitable for the creation of macromolecules?
It easily bonds with other atoms, it has 4 valance shell electrons which
means it like to gain or lose electrons.
Amino Acids
Draw how 3 amino acid monomers come together to form a polymer? You do not have to draw
the molecular structure, only the “H’s” and the “OH’s” and what happens to them
In general, how many different types of amino acid monomers are there?
20 total amino acids
that can be combined to form many different proteins
What is a polymer of amino acids called?
Proteins
What is the process where water is removed to form a chain of monomers called?
Dehydration Synthesis
Nucleotides
Draw how 3 nucleic acid monomers come together to form a polymer? You do not have to draw
the molecular structure, only the “H’s” and the “OH’s” and what happens to them
In general, how many different types of nucleotides monomers are there?
4 total nucleotides
that can be combined to form many different nucleic acids
What is an example of a polymer of nucleotides called?
Nucleotides combine to form Nucleic Acids
What is the process where water is removed to form a chain of nucleotides?
Dehydration Synthesis
Simple Sugars
Draw how 3 simple sugar monomers come together to form a polymer? You do not have to draw
the molecular structure, only the “H’s” and the “OH’s” and what happens to them
What is one example of a simple sugar monomer?
Glucose
What is a polymer of simple sugars called?
Simple sugars combine to form Carbohydrates
Overall:
What is hydrolysis and how would it work? Explain using one of the polymer chains above and
draw a diagram of it.
Hydrolysis is when you “add water” to break apart the monomers.
Why does carbon like to not only give electrons, but share them? Explain this using the octet
rule and comparing it to oxygen, which has a total of 6 electrons in its valance shell
Carbon has 4 valance shell electrons and because of the octet rule, which
says all atoms want either 0 or 8 electrons in their outer most shell, carbon
is willing to give or receive electrons when it shares them. Oxygen (and
many other atoms) on the other hand, is only willing to gain two (to go from
68)
Using words, explain what is the difference between hydrolysis and dehydration synthesis?
Dehydration synthesis is when you take away water from a monomer to
make a polymer while hydrolysis is when you add water to go from a polymer
to a monomer.