AP Biology Flashcards: Introduction To Macromolecules

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Introduction To Macromolecules, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Biology.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What is the main component of plant cell walls?

Answer: Cellulose. Strong glucose polymer provides structural support and rigidity to plants.

Flashcard 2: Which macromolecule is primarily hydrophobic?

Answer: Lipids. Contains mostly nonpolar carbon-hydrogen bonds that repel water.

Flashcard 3: What is the primary function of carbohydrates?

Answer: Provide energy. Glucose and other sugars are broken down to release ATP for cellular processes.

Flashcard 4: Identify the bond formed between amino acids.

Answer: Peptide bond. Forms when the carboxyl group of one amino acid bonds to the amino group of another.

Flashcard 5: What is the polymer of nucleotides called?

Answer: Polynucleotide. Long chain of nucleotides linked by phosphodiester bonds.

Flashcard 6: What is the main component of plant cell walls?

Answer: Cellulose. Strong glucose polymer provides structural support and rigidity to plants.

Flashcard 7: What is the role of DNA in cells?

Answer: Store genetic information. Contains hereditary instructions passed from parents to offspring.

Flashcard 8: What is the primary function of triglycerides?

Answer: Energy storage. Fats store more energy per gram than carbohydrates or proteins.

Flashcard 9: What is the functional group present in amino acids that contains nitrogen?

Answer: Amino group. Contains nitrogen and gives amino acids their basic properties.

Flashcard 10: What are the base pairing rules for RNA?

Answer: A-U, C-G. RNA uses uracil instead of thymine for complementary base pairing.

Flashcard 11: What type of bond links monosaccharides together?

Answer: Glycosidic bond. Covalent bond formed between sugar molecules during dehydration synthesis.

Flashcard 12: What is the primary energy storage polysaccharide in animals?

Answer: Glycogen. Highly branched glucose polymer stored in liver and muscle cells.

Flashcard 13: Which macromolecule serves as a major source of energy for cells?

Answer: Carbohydrates. Glucose is the preferred fuel molecule for cellular respiration.

Flashcard 14: What is the building block of cellulose?

Answer: Glucose. Simple sugar monomers connected by glycosidic bonds form this structural polymer.

Flashcard 15: What are the four main types of macromolecules?

Answer: Proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids. These are the essential large biological molecules found in all living organisms.

Flashcard 16: What type of bond links monosaccharides together?

Answer: Glycosidic bond. Covalent bond formed between sugar molecules during dehydration synthesis.

Flashcard 17: Identify the macromolecule formed by glycerol and fatty acids.

Answer: Triglycerides. Energy storage lipids consisting of three fatty acid chains bonded to glycerol.

Flashcard 18: What is a saturated fat characterized by?

Answer: No double bonds in fatty acids. All carbon atoms in fatty acid chains have maximum hydrogen atoms.

Flashcard 19: Which macromolecule is primarily hydrophobic?

Answer: Lipids. Contains mostly nonpolar carbon-hydrogen bonds that repel water.

Flashcard 20: What are the four main types of macromolecules?

Answer: Proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids. These are the essential large biological molecules found in all living organisms.

Flashcard 21: Which macromolecule can act as hormones?

Answer: Proteins and lipids. Chemical messengers that regulate physiology and behavior.

Flashcard 22: What are the two types of nucleic acids?

Answer: DNA and RNA. These polynucleotides store and transmit genetic information in cells.

Flashcard 23: What is the polymer of nucleotides called?

Answer: Polynucleotide. Long chain of nucleotides linked by phosphodiester bonds.

Flashcard 24: Which macromolecule can act as hormones?

Answer: Proteins and lipids. Chemical messengers that regulate physiology and behavior.

Flashcard 25: What is the monomer of proteins?

Answer: Amino acids. Small organic compounds with amino and carboxyl groups that link to form proteins.

Flashcard 26: What is the monomer of nucleic acids?

Answer: Nucleotides. Composed of a sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogenous base.

Flashcard 27: Which macromolecule serves as a major source of energy for cells?

Answer: Carbohydrates. Glucose is the preferred fuel molecule for cellular respiration.

Flashcard 28: Identify the macromolecule formed by glycerol and fatty acids.

Answer: Triglycerides. Energy storage lipids consisting of three fatty acid chains bonded to glycerol.

Flashcard 29: What is the primary function of carbohydrates?

Answer: Provide energy. Glucose and other sugars are broken down to release ATP for cellular processes.

Flashcard 30: What is the term for a chain of amino acids?

Answer: Polypeptide. Linear sequence of amino acids connected by peptide bonds.

Flashcard 31: What type of lipid is characterized by a four-ring structure?

Answer: Steroid. Cholesterol and hormones like testosterone share this rigid carbon ring framework.

Flashcard 32: What is the monomer of nucleic acids?

Answer: Nucleotides. Composed of a sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogenous base.

Flashcard 33: Identify the term for a protein's three-dimensional shape.

Answer: Tertiary structure. Overall folding pattern determines protein function and activity.

Flashcard 34: What type of biomolecule is cholesterol?

Answer: Lipid. Steroid molecule important for membrane fluidity and hormone synthesis.

Flashcard 35: Identify the primary function of enzymes.

Answer: Catalyze chemical reactions. Protein catalysts lower activation energy to speed up biochemical reactions.

Flashcard 36: Which macromolecule stores genetic information?

Answer: Nucleic acids. DNA and RNA contain the instructions for life and heredity.

Flashcard 37: What is the sugar found in DNA?

Answer: Deoxyribose. Five-carbon sugar lacking one hydroxyl group compared to ribose.

Flashcard 38: What is the role of RNA in cells?

Answer: Protein synthesis. Carries genetic instructions from DNA to ribosomes for protein production.

Flashcard 39: What is the main function of phospholipids in cells?

Answer: Form cell membranes. Create selective barriers that control what enters and exits cells.

Flashcard 40: Which type of macromolecule can function as enzymes?

Answer: Proteins. Their diverse shapes allow them to catalyze biochemical reactions.

Flashcard 41: What is the monomer of proteins?

Answer: Amino acids. Small organic compounds with amino and carboxyl groups that link to form proteins.

Flashcard 42: What type of reaction forms macromolecules by linking monomers?

Answer: Dehydration synthesis. Removes water molecules to join monomers together into polymers.

Flashcard 43: What are the base pairing rules for RNA?

Answer: A-U, C-G. RNA uses uracil instead of thymine for complementary base pairing.

Flashcard 44: What is an unsaturated fat characterized by?

Answer: One or more double bonds in fatty acids. Creates kinks in fatty acid chains, affecting membrane fluidity.

Flashcard 45: What is the role of DNA in cells?

Answer: Store genetic information. Contains hereditary instructions passed from parents to offspring.

Flashcard 46: What is the name of the bond between glycerol and fatty acids?

Answer: Ester bond. Linkage formed during triglyceride synthesis via dehydration reaction.

Flashcard 47: Which macromolecule provides structural support in insects and fungi?

Answer: Chitin. Modified cellulose polymer containing nitrogen that strengthens exoskeletons.

Flashcard 48: What is the functional group present in amino acids that contains nitrogen?

Answer: Amino group. Contains nitrogen and gives amino acids their basic properties.

Flashcard 49: What is the sugar found in DNA?

Answer: Deoxyribose. Five-carbon sugar lacking one hydroxyl group compared to ribose.

Flashcard 50: Which macromolecule provides structural support in insects and fungi?

Answer: Chitin. Modified cellulose polymer containing nitrogen that strengthens exoskeletons.

Flashcard 51: Identify the term for a protein's three-dimensional shape.

Answer: Tertiary structure. Overall folding pattern determines protein function and activity.

Flashcard 52: What is the role of RNA in cells?

Answer: Protein synthesis. Carries genetic instructions from DNA to ribosomes for protein production.

Flashcard 53: What is a saturated fat characterized by?

Answer: No double bonds in fatty acids. All carbon atoms in fatty acid chains have maximum hydrogen atoms.

Flashcard 54: Which type of macromolecule can function as enzymes?

Answer: Proteins. Their diverse shapes allow them to catalyze biochemical reactions.

Flashcard 55: What is the building block of cellulose?

Answer: Glucose. Simple sugar monomers connected by glycosidic bonds form this structural polymer.

Flashcard 56: What is the name of the bond between glycerol and fatty acids?

Answer: Ester bond. Linkage formed during triglyceride synthesis via dehydration reaction.

Flashcard 57: What type of lipid is characterized by a four-ring structure?

Answer: Steroid. Cholesterol and hormones like testosterone share this rigid carbon ring framework.

Flashcard 58: What is the primary structural component of cell membranes?

Answer: Phospholipids. Amphipathic molecules with hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails form bilayers.

Flashcard 59: What is the primary structural component of cell membranes?

Answer: Phospholipids. Amphipathic molecules with hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails form bilayers.

Flashcard 60: What is the primary energy storage polysaccharide in animals?

Answer: Glycogen. Highly branched glucose polymer stored in liver and muscle cells.

Flashcard 61: What is the sugar found in RNA?

Answer: Ribose. Five-carbon sugar that forms the backbone of RNA nucleotides.

Flashcard 62: What is the term for a chain of amino acids?

Answer: Polypeptide. Linear sequence of amino acids connected by peptide bonds.

Flashcard 63: What is the primary function of triglycerides?

Answer: Energy storage. Fats store more energy per gram than carbohydrates or proteins.

Flashcard 64: What type of biomolecule is cholesterol?

Answer: Lipid. Steroid molecule important for membrane fluidity and hormone synthesis.

Flashcard 65: What are the base pairing rules for DNA?

Answer: A-T, C-G. Complementary base pairing rules for DNA double helix formation.

Flashcard 66: What are the base pairing rules for DNA?

Answer: A-T, C-G. Complementary base pairing rules for DNA double helix formation.

Flashcard 67: Identify the primary function of enzymes.

Answer: Catalyze chemical reactions. Protein catalysts lower activation energy to speed up biochemical reactions.

Flashcard 68: What type of reaction forms macromolecules by linking monomers?

Answer: Dehydration synthesis. Removes water molecules to join monomers together into polymers.

Flashcard 69: Identify the process that breaks down macromolecules into monomers.

Answer: Hydrolysis. Adds water molecules to break bonds between monomers in polymers.

Flashcard 70: Identify the process that breaks down macromolecules into monomers.

Answer: Hydrolysis. Adds water molecules to break bonds between monomers in polymers.

Flashcard 71: What is the main function of phospholipids in cells?

Answer: Form cell membranes. Create selective barriers that control what enters and exits cells.