Date

Name

Period

Macromolecules Unit Study Guide

1. Define Organic: contains carbon
2. Define monomer: small molecule
3. Define polymer: larger molecule made up of monomers
4. Define polymerization: the process that joins monomers together to form a
polymer

5. What are the four groups of organic macromolecules? Carbohydrates, lipids,

proteins, nucleic acids

Carbohydrates
6. What are the elements that carbohydrates are made of? Carbon, hydrogen and
oxygen

7. What are the monomers of carbohydrates? Monosaccharides

8. Below is a monosaccharide. How can you tell?

9. What are the polymers of carbohydrates? Polysaccharides

10.

Below is a picture of a polysaccharide. How can you tell?

11.

Give some examples of monosaccharides: glucose, galactose

12.

Give some examples of polysaccharides:, starch, glycogen

13. Briefly explain how Benedicts Solution is used to test for carbohydrates. Be
sure to explain what specific group of carbohydrates it can detect and what
occurs in a positive and negative test.
Benedicts solution is used to test for monossaccharides (simple sugars). A
positive test will turn from a blue to an orange-red color. A negative test will stay
blue.
14. Briefly explain how Iodine is used to test for carbohydrates. Be sure to
explain what specific group of carbohydrates it can detect and what occurs in a
positive and negative test.
Iodine is used to test for polysaccharides (starch). A positive test changes from a
tan-brown color to a blue-black color. A negative test will stay tan-brown.
Lipids
15.

What are the elements that make up a lipid? Carbon and hydrogen

16.

What are the monomers of lipids? Fatty acid chain and glycerol head

17.

Below is a fatty acid chain. How can you tell?

18.

What are four common examples of lipids? Fats, oils

19. What are the differences between saturated and unsaturated lipids?
Unsaturated fats lack hydrogen and instead have a double bond.
20.

What are lipids that are solid at room temperature called? saturated

21.

What are lipids that are liquid at room temperature called? unsaturated

22. Briefly explain how Sudan III is used to test for lipids. A positive test yields a
red color.

Nucleic Acids
23. What are the elements that make up a nucleic acid? Hydrogen, oxygen,
nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus

24.

What are the monomers that make up nucleic acids? Nucleotide

25.

Below is a nucleotide. How can you tell?

26.

Below is a nucleic acid. How can you tell?

27.

What is the main purpose of nucleic acids? Store and transmit genetic

information

28.

Two examples of nucleic acids are: _DNA______ and __RNA_____.

Proteins
29.

What are the elements that make up a protein? Nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen,

and oxygen

30.

31.

32.

What are the monomers that make up proteins? Amino acids

Below is an amino acid. How can you tell?

Below is a polypeptide. How can you tell?

33.

What are the functions of a protein? Cell processes, used as structure, they

fight disease, and transport

34. Briefly explain how Biuret
solution is used to test for proteins?
A negative test is blue. A positive
test is violet to black