BIO UNIT 4: BIOCHEM BASICS +
CARBOHYDRATES + PROTEINS + LIPIDS
2026 ACTUAL QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS.
Primary functions of lipids
Helpful for long term energy storage, make up cell membranes,
important for insulation and cushioning
Building blocks of lipids (2 monomers lipids are made of)
glycerol (head) & fatty acids (tail)
Steroids
hormones (the body's messenger molecules) that are made of
lipid
unsaturated fats
A fat that is liquid at room temperature and found in vegetable
oils, nuts, and seeds. Liquid because double-bonds between
the carbons cause bent tails that will not let the fatty acids pack
as tightly together.
saturated fats
A fat that is solid at room temperature and found in animal fats
(beef, chicken, pork, dairy, etc). Solid because all the carbon to
carbon bonds are single bonds, which means the tails are
straight and can pack together tightly.
lipid structure
, long chain of carbons with few oxygens and many hydrogens (if
there is a double bond causing a bend, it is unsaturated)
Difference in structure between saturated and unsaturated
fats
Saturated are totally surrounded by hydrogens due to all single
bonds between carbons; unsaturated has a double bond
between carbons so there are fewer hydrogens surrounding it
dehydration synthesis
A chemical reaction in which two molecules BOND TOGETHER
with the REMOVAL of WATER
Hydrolysis
A chemical process that SPLITS a molecule by ADDING
WATER.
Monomer
A simple compound whose molecules can join together to form
polymers
Polymer
A large / long molecule consisting of many similar or identical
monomers linked together.
Primary functions of carbohydrates
main food source to get energy (from cellular respiration); can
also be used for structure - mainly in plants (cell walls of plants
but also exoskeleton of insects)
glycogen
storage polysaccharide (carb) in animals - found in muscle and
liver
polysaccharide
CARBOHYDRATES + PROTEINS + LIPIDS
2026 ACTUAL QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS.
Primary functions of lipids
Helpful for long term energy storage, make up cell membranes,
important for insulation and cushioning
Building blocks of lipids (2 monomers lipids are made of)
glycerol (head) & fatty acids (tail)
Steroids
hormones (the body's messenger molecules) that are made of
lipid
unsaturated fats
A fat that is liquid at room temperature and found in vegetable
oils, nuts, and seeds. Liquid because double-bonds between
the carbons cause bent tails that will not let the fatty acids pack
as tightly together.
saturated fats
A fat that is solid at room temperature and found in animal fats
(beef, chicken, pork, dairy, etc). Solid because all the carbon to
carbon bonds are single bonds, which means the tails are
straight and can pack together tightly.
lipid structure
, long chain of carbons with few oxygens and many hydrogens (if
there is a double bond causing a bend, it is unsaturated)
Difference in structure between saturated and unsaturated
fats
Saturated are totally surrounded by hydrogens due to all single
bonds between carbons; unsaturated has a double bond
between carbons so there are fewer hydrogens surrounding it
dehydration synthesis
A chemical reaction in which two molecules BOND TOGETHER
with the REMOVAL of WATER
Hydrolysis
A chemical process that SPLITS a molecule by ADDING
WATER.
Monomer
A simple compound whose molecules can join together to form
polymers
Polymer
A large / long molecule consisting of many similar or identical
monomers linked together.
Primary functions of carbohydrates
main food source to get energy (from cellular respiration); can
also be used for structure - mainly in plants (cell walls of plants
but also exoskeleton of insects)
glycogen
storage polysaccharide (carb) in animals - found in muscle and
liver
polysaccharide
