Biological

Macromolecules
 IMPORTANT TERMS
a. Carbohydrates m. Nucleic acid
b. Saccharides n. Nucleotides
c. Glycosidic bond o. Phosphodiester bond
d. Proteins p. Amphiphilic
e. Amino acid q. Hydrophilic tendency
f. Peptide bond r. Hydrophobic tendency
g. Lipids s. Functional group
h. Triglyceride t. Carboxylic acid
i. Glycerol u. Alcohol
j. Fatty acid v. Amine
k. Phospholipids w. Fischer structure
l. Steroids x. Haworth structure
Carbohydrates
 What elements do you see
in the structure/ formula?

C, H, O
What do you notice with the
chemical formula of glucose?

the number of C and O

atoms are the same

the number of H atoms is double

that of the C and O atoms

the formula can be

rewritten as C6 (H2O)6
Different structures of Haworth
carbohydrates of monosaccharide and
disaccharide, and polysaccharide).
What similarities do you see in
the structures?

- they have similar units (hexagon

units)
 - they have the same elements
What differences do you see in
the structures?

 they have varying lengths - some have one, two, and

many subunits
 saccharide, monosaccharide,
disaccharide, and polysaccharide

 Give examples and sources of the different saccharides.

Connect the discussions with the different functions of
the different saccharides. You may let the learners draw
the function based on the different sources. For
example, fructose (example) can be found in fruits
(source), and fruits are sources of energy (function).
Another would be cellulose (example) which can be
found in plant stems, leaves, bark, roots which serves as
the structural material of plants (function).
Compare monosaccharides and
disaccharides with polysaccharides to
show the relationship of structure and
property/function. Point out that there
is rigidifying of the molecules as more
saccharides are attached and more
branches are created. In the process
of creating longer chains, water is
being released. This can be related to
loss of mobility/flexibility of
 The word carbohydrate may be broken down to carbon and hydrate.
From the chemical formula of carbohydrate, notice that the ratio of
C:H:O is 1:2:1, which can be rewritten as Cn(H2O)n. Carbohydrates
can be seen as hydrates of carbon. This is a traditional but incorrect
understanding of carbohydrates but it still presents a useful picture of
the molecule. Another term for carbohydrate is saccharide. This term
is derived from the Latin word saccharum referring to sugar--a
common carbohydrate.
 Carbohydrates are classified either as simple or complex. Simple
sugars are monosaccharides and disaccharides. Complex sugars are
polysaccharides.
 Carbohydrates are the primary energy source of the human body. The
different saccharides that humans eat are converted to glucose which
can be readily used by the body. Around 4 kilocalories is derived from
one gram of carbohydrate. Should there be an excessive consumption
of carbohydrates, the excess is converted to glycogen which is stored
in the liver and in muscles. Glycogen is a slow-releasing carbohydrate.

 Monosaccharide (one saccharide) Glucose Used in
dextrose, blood sugar; the form utilized by the human
body Galactose Found in milk and milk products
Fructose Found in fruits and honey
 The above monosaccharides all have the same chemical
formula of C6H12O6 and its structure is the one that
made the difference in its properties. For example,
galactose (163-169oC) has a higher melting point than
glucose (148-155oC). Glucose is sweeter than galactose.