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Aspects of Biochemistry: Biomolecules
Aspects of Biochemistry: Biomolecules
BIOMOLECULES:
WATER
CARBOHYDRATES: Monosaccharides,
Disaccharides, Polysaccharides
LIPIDS: Triglycerides, Phospholipids
PROTEINS
BIOMOLECULES
DENSITY AND FREEZING- as temperature Bodies of water (ponds, lakes, seas, oceans
lowers, water‘s density increases until 4 etc) will not freeze solid. Aquatic organisms
degrees C. Below this temperature, its density are thus not deprived of a home nor killed off.
decreases so that ice is less dense than liquid The top layer of ice insulates the water below
water. it.
PROPERTY IMPORTANCE
HIGH SURFACE TENSION AND Cohesion is important for transport of water
COHESION- individual water molecules stick and organic substances in plants. It allows
together (cohesion) due to their H-bonds. This material to be moved against gravity.
results in the formation of a ‘film’ at the water- Some animals (pondskater, basilisk lizard) can
air interface(surface tension). stand, walk or run on water. This aids in their
Surface tension is the difficulty involved in escape from predators and/or capture of prey.
breaking the surface of a liquid
REAGENT- water takes part in some Photosynthesis is the basic reaction that
chemical reactions. supports almost all life on Earth.
SOLVENT- water is described as the universal Important molecules are able to dissolve in
solvent. This is because of the wide array of blood and so be transported around the body.
substances that can be dissolved in water. This Hormones, ions, proteins are a few.
involves polar, neutral and ionic substances. Furthermore, ions dissolve in water inside of
cells and in so doing are able to participate in
chemical reactions.
Hydrolysis:
C36H62O31 + 5 H2O = 6 C6H12O6