Question

i suggest you watch one video lecture, then complete the corresponding exercises in this worksheet. this will help you retain important information and let you know which points need to be reviewed.
if you have questions, write them down and bring them the lab meeting on wednesday.

macromolecules – part 1

1. complete the table below by writing down the names of the monomers and polymers of

the four types of organic macromolecules

macromolecule	monomer	polymer
carbohydrates
nucleic acids
proteins

*remember that lipids are not true polymers; you can name the two types of molucule that
form triglycerides.

1. list three different functions that lipids can have.

1. both carbohydrates and lipids are made of the same elements: c, h and o. what are the

differences between them?

lauric acid
a fatty acid commonly found in coconut oil.
lauric acid chemical structure with carboxyl group and hydrocarbon chain labels

glucose
glucose chemical structure

Explanation:

Question 1: Completing the Table

To solve this, we recall the monomers and polymers (or component molecules for lipids) of each macromolecule:

Macromolecule	Monomer/Component	Polymer/Structure
Carbohydrates	Monosaccharides (e.g., Glucose)	Polysaccharides (e.g., Starch, Glycogen)
Nucleic Acids	Nucleotides (sugar + phosphate + base)	DNA, RNA
Proteins	Amino Acids	Polypeptides (Proteins)

Question 2: Lipid Functions

Lipids have multiple roles:

1. Energy Storage: Triglycerides store long - term energy.
2. Structural Component: Phospholipids form cell membranes.
3. Insulation: Fat deposits insulate the body (e.g., in animals).

Question 3: Carbohydrate vs. Lipid Differences

• Ratio of Elements: Carbohydrates have a roughly 1:2:1 ratio of C:H:O (e.g., Glucose, \(C_6H_{12}O_6\)). Lipids have much less O relative to C and H (e.g., Lauric Acid has a long hydrocarbon chain with few O atoms).
• Energy Storage: Lipids store more energy per gram (about 9 kcal/g) than carbohydrates (about 4 kcal/g).
• Structure: Carbohydrates have more polar - hydroxyl groups (making them more soluble in water), while lipids (especially fats) are non - polar and hydrophobic.

Final Answers (for the table in Q1)

Macromolecule	Monomer/Component	Polymer/Structure
Carbohydrates	Monosaccharides	Polysaccharides
Nucleic Acids	Nucleotides	DNA, RNA
Proteins	Amino Acids	Polypeptides (Proteins)

(For Q2, the three functions can be energy storage, cell membrane structure, insulation. For Q3, the differences are in element ratio, energy storage per gram, and polarity/solubility.)

Answer:

Question 1: Completing the Table

To solve this, we recall the monomers and polymers (or component molecules for lipids) of each macromolecule:

Macromolecule	Monomer/Component	Polymer/Structure
Carbohydrates	Monosaccharides (e.g., Glucose)	Polysaccharides (e.g., Starch, Glycogen)
Nucleic Acids	Nucleotides (sugar + phosphate + base)	DNA, RNA
Proteins	Amino Acids	Polypeptides (Proteins)

Question 2: Lipid Functions

Lipids have multiple roles:

1. Energy Storage: Triglycerides store long - term energy.
2. Structural Component: Phospholipids form cell membranes.
3. Insulation: Fat deposits insulate the body (e.g., in animals).

Question 3: Carbohydrate vs. Lipid Differences

• Ratio of Elements: Carbohydrates have a roughly 1:2:1 ratio of C:H:O (e.g., Glucose, \(C_6H_{12}O_6\)). Lipids have much less O relative to C and H (e.g., Lauric Acid has a long hydrocarbon chain with few O atoms).
• Energy Storage: Lipids store more energy per gram (about 9 kcal/g) than carbohydrates (about 4 kcal/g).
• Structure: Carbohydrates have more polar - hydroxyl groups (making them more soluble in water), while lipids (especially fats) are non - polar and hydrophobic.

Final Answers (for the table in Q1)

Macromolecule	Monomer/Component	Polymer/Structure
Carbohydrates	Monosaccharides	Polysaccharides
Nucleic Acids	Nucleotides	DNA, RNA
Proteins	Amino Acids	Polypeptides (Proteins)

(For Q2, the three functions can be energy storage, cell membrane structure, insulation. For Q3, the differences are in element ratio, energy storage per gram, and polarity/solubility.)