Macromolecules Worksheet

Compounds can be organic or inorganic

Organic - compounds that contain both carbon and hydrogen atoms
Inorganic - compounds that DO NOT contain both carbon and hydrogen

There are four classes of organic compounds that are central to life on earth.
1. Carbohydrates
2. Lipids
3. Proteins
4. Nucleic Acids

Carbohydrates (Sugars and Starches)

1. Functions - energy
a. Sugar - quick energy
b. Starch - long term energy
2. Make up - C, H, and O
a. Monosaccharides - carbohydrate made up of one type of sugar (ex. Glucose)
b. Disaccharides - carbohydrates made up of two sugars bonded together
(ex. Glucose + Glucose = Maltose)
c. Polysaccharide - complex carbohydrate made up of chains of monosaccharides
ex. Starch - food storage compound found in plants
Cellulose - makes up the cell wall of plants
Glycogen - a food storage compound in animals

Lipids (Fats, Oils, Waxes)

1. Function
a. Fat - stores energy (twice as much as carbohydrates)
b. Plant Wax
c. Cholesterol
2. Make-Up - C, H, and O (less oxygen than in carbohydrates)
Triglyceride - consists of 3 fatty acids and one molecule of glycerol
(fatty acids are made from CH2 units)
3. Insoluble in Water
4. Fats that are in a liquid state at room temperature are OILS

Proteins (long chains of amino acids)

1. Functions
a. Enzymes
b. Hormones
c. Structural Parts of Organisms
2. Make-Up - C, H, O, and N
a. There are 20 different kinds of amino acids
b. amino acids are held together by a peptide bond (when a peptide bond is formed,
a molecule of water is lost)
c. Dipeptide - two amino acids joined together by a peptide bond
Tripeptide - dipeptide and an amino acid
Polypeptide - long chain of amino acids

Nucleic Acids (made up of nucleotides)

 1. Functions
a. DNA - stores genetic information
b. RNA - makes proteins
2. Make-Up
a. made up of nucleotides
b. a nucleotide consists of a 5-carbon sugar group, a phosphate group, and a
nitrogenous base
3. There are two basic kinds of nucleic acids. Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) which contains the
sugar ribose and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) which contains the sugar deoxyribose.
4. DNA - 2 strands of nucleotides; RNA - 1 strand of nucleotides

Enzymes - with few exceptions, they are proteins

Catalyst - substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction.
Living organisms contain enzymes, which are catalysts

Characteristics of Enzymes
 Are not used up in a reaction
 Combine with substrates
 Speed up the rate of a reaction

Enzymes are used for digestion, respiration, reproduction, vision, movement, and thought.

Substrate - reactions that are affected by an enzyme

Active Site - region where substrate binds to the enzyme
Macromolecules Worksheet Name Per.

Part A. Classify each as a carbohydrate, protein, lipid or nucleic acid.

1. starch 10. polysaccharide

2. cholesterol 11. phospholipid
3. steroid 12. glycerol
4. glycogen 13. monosaccharide
5. nucleotide 14. cellulose
6. RNA 15. amino acid
7. polypeptide chain 16. enzyme
8. glucose 17. saturated fat
9. unsaturated fatty acid 18. DNA

Part B. Identify the specific molecule (use the above terms) from each description. Some terms may be used
more than once.

17. provides long-term energy storage for animals

18. instructions for building proteins
19. provides immediate energy
20. sex hormones
21. provides short-term energy storage for plants
22. animal and plant structures
23. forms the cell membrane of all cells
24. speeds up chemical reactions by lowering activation energy
25. one sugar
26. cells convert this into ATP
27. monomer of proteins
28. provides long-term energy storage for plants
29. genetic material
30. steroid that makes up part of the cell membranes
31. 3-carbon “backbone” of a fat
32. provides short-term energy storage for animals
33. many sugars
34. monomer of nucleic acids
35. forms the cell wall of plant cells
Part C. Which specific molecule (saturated fat, unsaturated fat, protein, glucose, starch, cellulose) is each food
mostly made of?

36. almond 44. celery

37. spinach 45. soy beans
38. beef jerky 46. cranberries
39. bacon 47. egg white
40. noodles 48. table sugar
41. orange juice 49. popcorn
42. cheese 50. lobster
43. wheat 51. sesame oil

Part D. State whether each is found in animals, plants or both.

52. saturated fat 61. glucose

53. protein 62. RNA
54. steroid 63. polysaccharide
55. amino acid 64. glycogen
56. DNA 65. starch
57. cellulose 66. phospholipid
58. monosaccharide 67. enzyme

Part E. Which food molecule (monosaccharide, polysaccharide, lipid, protein) would you eat if…
68. …you needed a quick boost of energy?
69. …you wanted to grow strong nails?
70. …you haven’t eaten in days?
71. …you wanted to grow healthy hair?
72. …you had a race tomorrow afternoon?
73. …you were getting ready for hibernation?
74. …you wanted to get bigger muscles?
75. …your next meal will be in a week?