EDEXCEL: AS BIOLOGY
REVISION NOTES: UNIT 1
Metabolism
Metabolism is a term to describe all reaction which is taking place within a cell and
is separated into two types which are,
anabolic = compounds being built up
catabolic = compounds being broken down
Water
The water molecule is a molecule which is made up from 2 hydrogen atoms and 1
oxygen atoms. It is bounded by 2 covalent bonds and has is polar. The reason why
water molecules are important for living organisms are because :1 . T h e y a r e
i m p o r t a n t s o l v e n t s s i n c e t h e y a r e p o l a r [Link] coolants for
excessive metabolic [Link] for insulation since they have
high specific heat [Link] is a very good mechanism for transport
since they are highly [Link] reag ents for chemical
reactions ( such as hydrolysis and photosynthesis
Carbohydrates
Separated into 3 types which are monosaccharides, disaccharides and
polysaccharides
Monosaccharides
they are three main types of monosaccharides which you have to know in this level
which are Pentoses - Such as ribose (with formula C5H10O5) and fructose
Hexose - Such as alpha and beta glucoses
All members of monosaccharides are reducing since they have the aldehyde
groups, therefore they will cause a brick red precipitate to form when tested
with Benedicts solution
Disaccharides
You would need to know 3 types of dissacharides in this level which is
[Link] - Formed between glucose and galactose and is bounded by
1,4glycosidic bonds (found in milk)
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[Link] - Formed by 2 molecules of glucose and is bounded by
1,4glycosidic bonds (found in starch after being hydrolyzed)
[Link] Formed by a molecule of glucose and a molecule of
fructose bounded by 1,2 glycosidic bonds (Found in most plant since it is used to
transport sugary compounds)
The formation of bonds between 2 monosaccharides is called condensation and
the breakage of these bonds are called hydrolysis. Hydrolysis of these bonds can be
brought about by adding dilute HCl.
Both lactose and maltose are reducing but sucrose is not a reducing sugar.
Therefore disaccharides can or cannot be reducing. It is not always a reducing
agent.
Polysaccharides
There are three types of polysaccharides that we need to know at this level which
are
Starch
A polymer of alpha glucose and is bounded by 30% amylose (1,4
glycosidic bonds) and 70% amylopectin (both 1,4 and 1,6 glycosidic bonds)
It is used as a food storage for plants and is built from the amyloplasts in
thecytoplasm of plant cells.
Starch is an important storage molecule since it is compact, insoluble in water,inert
to chemical reactions and is easily hydrolysed when required.
Glycogen
A polymer of alpha glucose with 1,4 glycosidic bonds but even more 1,6glycosidic
bonds compared to starch since it is even more branched..
It is used as an energy store in animals and is also found in bacterias
Glycogen is an important storage molecule since it is compact, insoluble in
water,inert to chemical reactions and is easily hydrolysed when required.
Cellulose
A polymer of beta glucose and is by only 1,4-glycosidic bonds. Therefore it is
not branched but arranged in a matrix which is bounded by hydrogen bonds
It is the constituent of cell walls and can be hydrolysed by ruminant animals bythe
action of cellulase enzymes..All polysaccharides are non reducing sugars.
Lipids
Lipids are basically fats and oils that contain elements of carbon, hydrogen and
oxygen
An example of a lipid would be the triglyceride which is formed by glycerol and
fatty acids .The bond formed is catalyzed by the process of condensation between
the OH groups of the glycerol and the fatty acids. The bonds formed between
them are the ester bonds. Since triglyceride itself is an ester.
There are two types of fatty acids which are unsaturated and saturated fatty acids.
An example of a saturated fatty acid would be stearic acid and unsaturated
would be the oleic acid. The difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty
acids are the double bonds and the amount of hydrogen present at where saturated
acids have more hydrogen and no double bond present.
The usages of triglycerides are important energy stores, compact, insoluble
inwater, releases energy twice the amount of carbohydrates, and provides
buoyancyfor aquatic animals.
The usages of fatty acids include the formation of triglycerides and is alsorequired
for the formation of phospholipids.
Phospholipids
Formed between fatty acids, glycerol and a phosphate group.
The head is hydrophilic (soluble in water) but the tail is hydrophobic (insoluble
inwater).
Therefore phospholipids are used as the main constituents of cell membranes
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