Biochemistry
STUDY GUIDE KEY
1. What are the 4 biomolecules of life?
Give an example of each.

Protein - meats

Lipids – fats and oils

Carbohydrates – breads

Nucleic Acids – DNA & RNA
2. Complete the following table.
Macromolecule
Monomer/Polymer
Elements/Components involved
Examples
Protein
Amino acid/
polypeptide
C, H, O, N
Carboxyl group, amino group, R
group
Enzymes,
meats, hair
Lipids
Fatty acids, glycerols/
Triglycerides
C, H
Glycerol, Fatty acids, phosphate
group (phospholipids)
Wax, Steroids,
fats, oils
Carbohydrates
Monosaccharide/
Polysaccharide
C, H, O
Bread
Nucleic Acids
Nucleotide/
DNA & RNA
C, H, O, N, P
Phosphorous group, sugar,
nitrogenous base
DNA, RNA
Indicator
Biuret
Pos: purple
Neg: blue
Paper smear
Pos: translucent
Neg: opaque
Starch: Iodine
Pos: black
N: red/orange
Sugar: Benedict’s solution
Pos: green-red
Neg: Blue
N/A
3. Each biomolecule has a single unit known
as a __________and a many unit structure
known as a _________.

Each biomolecule has a single unit known as a
monomer and a many unit structure known as a
polymer.
4. If two monomers of carbohydrates
were to bond it would make a _______.

If two monomers of carbohydrates were to
bond it would make a disaccharide.
5. Which 3 elements do carbohydrates
contain?

Carbon

Hydrogen

Oxygen
6. Describe a biological function for
each of the following carbohydrates

Cellulose: makes the structure of the cell walls

Starch: how plants store polysaccharides for energy
7. Briefly describe what a peptide
bond is.

A peptide bond is when two or more amino acids link
together to make a polypeptide or protein. When a
peptide bond is made, one molecule of water is
produced.
8. An amino acid has three parts.
What are they called?

Amino group

Carboxyl group

R group
9. Enzymes are catalysts. What does
that mean?

Enzymes start a reaction and help it occur faster. They
are necessary for our life functions. Without them,
reactions would take too long to take place.
10. The substrate of an enzyme binds to the
_____ of the enzyme in order for a reaction
to occur.

The substrate of an enzyme binds to the active site of
the enzyme in order for a reaction to occur.
11. What is denaturing a protein
mean?

Denaturing a protein means that the protein
itself changes shape due to temperature,
salinity, or pH and is no longer functional. This
reaction is not reversible.
12. What conditions can cause an
enzyme to change or denature?

High temperatures

Salinity

pH
13. What are the four types of lipids?

Triglycerides

Phospholipids

Waxes

Steroids
14. What is this difference between
saturated and unsaturated fats?

Saturated fats are from animals, contain only single
bonds in the fatty acid chains, and are solid at room
temperature.

Unsaturated fats are from plants, contain at least one
double bond in the fatty acid chains, and are liquid at
room temperature.
15. What are the two type of nucleic acids?
DNA
RNA
the end.