Biological molecules

Carbohydrates are sugar molecules

Types of carbohydrates

Monosaccharide

glucose, fructose, and galactose.

polysaccharide

Starch, glycogen, cellulose, heparin, and peptidoglycan

Disaccharide

sucrose, lactose, and maltose.

Sources:

Carbohydrates are found in a wide array of both healthy and unhealthy foods—bread, beans, milk, popcorn, potatoes, cookies, spaghetti, soft drinks, corn, and cherry pie. They also come in a variety of forms. The most common and abundant forms are sugars, fibers, and starches.

Test for carbohydrates

Benedict test

Light blue solution will turn into brick red percipitate in presence of reducing sugars

Importance

Immediate source of energy

Uses:

Makes new cells for growth and repair
Make muscles in the body
Facilitate chemical reactions
Makes hair and nails

Sources:

Animals: lean meat, dairy products, fish and eggs
Plant: what, corn

Test for proteins

Biuret test

Light blue solution will turn purple with presence of proteins

Importance:

Formation of tissue
Making enzymes
Making hormones
Making antibodies

Primary sources

Animals: milk products, lard, fatty fish etc
Plants: palm oil, sunflower seed oil, avocado oil etc

Subtopic

What are lipids?

Contain Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen but have a higher ratio of H:O compared to carbohydrates

Made up of glycerol and 3 fatty acids

Triglyceride: 1 glycerol, 3 fatty acid molecules

Phospholipids: 1 glycerol, 2 fatty acid and 1 phosphoric acid molecule

Importance

Formation of cell membrane
Thermal insulation
Highest energy storage per gram(37Kj/g)

Types of lipids

Simple

E.g triglycerides, waxes

Comples

E.g phospholipids, glycolipids

Test for fats

Ethanol emulsion test:
add 1:1 ratio of ethanol to solution and shake, if mixture turns cloudy then fats are present

Required for almost all biological reactions to take place

Vitamin C

Water soluble
For repair of tissues
Catalyst for cell respiration