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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Introductory Topics
What is the reason for lipids requiring carrier proteins in order to be transported in the blood?
Their size
Their polarity
Their shape
Their stability
Their polarity
Unlike carbohydrates and proteins, lipids are mainly nonpolar molecules. As a result, they are unable to be dissolved in aqueous solutions, such as blood. This makes them require a lipoprotein in order to be transported through the bloodstream. Without these proteins, lipids would be insoluble in the blood and cause clots.
Example Question #1 : Macromolecules
Phospholipids are amphipathic molecules. This means that they __________.
can be digested or created in the body
have both polar and nonpolar sections
dissolve in aqueous solutions
act as both a reactant and a product
have both polar and nonpolar sections
Amphipathic molecules have both polar and nonpolar sections. For phospholipids, the phosphate region carries a negative charge, making it polar, while the lipid tail is a nonpolar hydrocarbon. Being amphipathic is a key characteristic that allows phospholipids to form the plasma membrane. The polar ends are able to face the aqueous environment while the nonpolar ends are faced towards each other. This creates an effective nonpolar barrier around the cell, while still remaining stable by having polar regions facing the aqueous environments.
Example Question #2 : Understanding Lipids And Carbohydrates
Which carbohydrate cannot be digested by humans?
Cellulose
Amylose
Glycogen
Starch
Cellulose
Cellulose is a polysaccharide in which the monomers are linked by a beta linkage. This linkage requires a specialized enzyme that is not found in human beings. As a result, humans cannot break down cellulose.
Glycogen is used to store glucose in the body, and can be broken down to release energy. Starch is used to store glucose in plants, but can also be broken down by humans. Amylose is a component of starch.
Example Question #1 : Introductory Topics
Which of the following classes of molecules produces the most energy per gram?
Fibers
Fats
Carbohydrates
Nucleic acids
Proteins
Fats
There are four classes of biological molecules: fats, carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids. Of these, fats produce the most energy per gram at a whopping nine calories per gram. Carbohydrates and proteins produce less than half of this, at only four calories per gram.
Example Question #3 : Macromolecules
Which of the following is not a type of fat in the body?
Unsaturated fats
Trans fats
Di-saturated fats
Mono-unsaturated fats
Saturated fats
Di-saturated fats
Lipids, or fats, are formed from hydrocarbon chains. The carbon atoms link together and bond to hydrogen to fill their orbitals. When all the bonds in the molecule are single bonds, the lipid is saturated. There is no such thing as a "di-saturated fat."
When there is a single double bond in the chain, the lipid is mono-unsaturated. When there are multiple double bonds in the chain, the lipid is unsaturated. Trans fats have a double bond with the adjacent hydrogen atoms on opposite sides of the carbon chain, maintaining a linear structure.
Most fats in the body are triglycerides. Their primary function is long-term energy storage.
Example Question #3 : Understanding Lipids And Carbohydrates
Which of the following is a carbohydrate?
Ribose
Helicase
Triglyceride
Cholesterol
Insulin
Ribose
Carbohydrates are known as sugars or saccharides. Virtually all carbohydrates end in the suffix "-ose," making them easy to identify. Ribose is a five-carbon sugar found in RNA. Some other common carbohydrates include deoxyribose, glucose, cellulose, and lactose. Sucrose is the technical name of table sugar, which is also a carbohydrate.
The other classes of molecules are fats, proteins, and nucleic acids. Fats, or lipids, can be further broken down into other categories, such as sterols and glycerolipids. Sterol lipids generally have the suffix "-ol" and include cholesterol and estradiol (estrogen). Glycerolipids include triglycerides. Proteins are formed from amino acids. Enzymes are a class of protein and generally have the suffix "-ase," such as helicase. Other proteins often have the suffix "-in" or "-en," such as insulin.
Example Question #2 : Macromolecules
Which of the following are true regarding lipids?
Lipids are soluble in nonpolar solvents
Lipids are soluble in water
Lipids do not store energy
Lipids can only be triglycerides
Lipids are hydrophilic
Lipids are soluble in nonpolar solvents
Lipids are hydrophobic, which means that they are insoluble in water, a polar solvent. Lipids can store abundant energy. Lipids contain large nonpolar regions, which means that they are soluble in nonpolar solvents. Triglycerides are only one type of lipids. Other types include, but are not limited to: monoglycerides, diglycerides, phospholipids, and fatty acids.
Example Question #1 : Understanding Lipids And Carbohydrates
What is the difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids?
I. Saturated fatty acids do not contain double bonds, unsaturated fatty acids contain at least one double bond
II. Saturated fatty acids contain at least one double bond, unsaturated fatty acids do not contain double bonds
III. Saturated fatty acids contain the maximum amount of H atoms on their carbon skeletons
IV. Unsaturated fatty acids contain the maximum amount of H atoms on their carbon skeletons
III only
I and III
II and IV
II only
I only
I and III
Saturated fatty acids do not have double bonds between carbon atoms. Therefore, the maximum amount of hydrogen atoms are bonded to the carbon skeleton chain. Saturated fatty acids are solid at room temperature, like butter. Unsaturated fatty acids have at lease one double bond. These double bonds create kinks in the carbon skeleton, preventing hydrogen atoms from packing onto the skeleton. Unsaturated fatty acids are therefore more fluid and are liquid at room temperature, like oil and natural peanut butter.
Example Question #6 : Macromolecules
What is true of both lipids and fats?
I. Both are macromolecules
II. Both are hydrophobic
III. Fats are composed of glycerol and fatty acids
IV. Lipids are composed of glycerol and fatty acids
V. Fats are held together via ester linkage
II, III, and V
I and II
I, II, IV, and V
I, III, and IV
I, II, and V
II, III, and V
Because lipids do not include true polymers, they are not big enough to be considered macromolecules. However, like fats, lipids are hydrophobic. Fats are considered macromolecules and are composed of glycerol and fatty acid molecules. The glycerol and fatty acid molecules are joined via an ester linkage, which is formed by a dehydration reaction.
Example Question #1 : Macromolecules
What sugar molecule does ATP contain?
Triphosphate
Deoxyribose
Ribose
Adenine
Adenosine
Ribose
ATP stands for adenosine triphosphate. Ribose is the five-carbon sugar, which is bonded to a phosphate group and adenine group in a molecule of ATP.
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