Carbon:hydrogen:oxygen = 1:2:1
Explanation
Carbohydrates characteristically contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio. Proteins include nitrogen, while nucleic acids include phosphorus, so those elements do not define this carbohydrate ratio.
Nitrogen
Explanation
Proteins contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, whereas carbohydrates and lipids contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Phosphorus is characteristic of nucleic acids in the listed comparison.
Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids
Explanation
The four major biomolecule classes are carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Vitamins, minerals, and enzymes do not form the standard four-class grouping, although some enzymes are proteins.
A polymer contains many joined monomers
Explanation
A polymer is formed when many monomers are joined together. A single building block is a monomer, while the other choices describe specific molecules or unsupported characteristics.
Adenine pairs with thymine, and guanine pairs with cytosine
Explanation
DNA base pairs are adenine with thymine and guanine with cytosine, written A-T and G-C. The pairing of guanine with uracil belongs to the stated RNA convention, not DNA.
Dehydration synthesis
Explanation
Dehydration synthesis links monomers into polymers as water is removed during the reaction. Hydrolysis involves adding water to split polymers into smaller units, so it represents the opposing process.
Glucose, fructose, and galactose
Explanation
Glucose, fructose, and galactose are monosaccharides, or single sugar units. Cellulose, starch, and glycogen are polysaccharides made from many sugar units.
Phosphorus
Explanation
Nucleic acids contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus, while the stated protein composition includes carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. Phosphorus is therefore the distinguishing element.
Adenine pairs with thymine, and guanine pairs with uracil
Explanation
The stated RNA convention pairs adenine with thymine and guanine with uracil, written A-T and G-U. The pattern containing guanine-cytosine is the DNA pairing pattern described here.
It contains carbon
Explanation
An organic compound is defined here by containing carbon. Water solubility, the presence of particular additional elements, and production by living organisms do not by themselves establish that classification.
It has one or more double bonds between carbon atoms
Explanation
Unsaturated fatty acids contain one or more double covalent bonds between carbon atoms. Saturated fatty acids have single covalent bonds between their carbon atoms.
Lipids
Explanation
Lipids store energy over the long term and also help insulate and cushion the body. Carbohydrates are more closely associated with short-term energy and structural roles.
Nitrogen
Explanation
Proteins contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, whereas carbohydrates and lipids are described as containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Therefore, nitrogen is the distinguishing element.
A single building block of a larger molecule
Explanation
A monomer is one building block that can be joined to form a larger molecule. A chain containing many joined monomers is a polymer, not a monomer.
Carbohydrates
Explanation
Carbohydrates provide short-term energy and also have structural functions. Lipids are more associated with long-term energy storage, warmth, and cushioning.
Helping develop muscles and acting as enzymes
Explanation
Proteins contribute to muscle development, immune support, and enzyme activity. Nucleic acids are associated with storing genetic information, not performing these protein functions.
Amino acid to polypeptide
Explanation
Amino acids join to form polypeptides, which are protein chains. Nucleotides form nucleic acids, monosaccharides form polysaccharides, and fatty acids plus glycerol form triglycerides.
A sugar, a phosphate, and a nitrogen base
Explanation
Each nucleotide consists of a sugar, a phosphate, and a nitrogen base. An amino acid and peptide bond belong to protein structure, not the three-part structure of a nucleotide.
DNA has two strands and deoxyribose; RNA has one strand and ribose
Explanation
DNA is described as double-stranded with deoxyribose, whereas RNA is single-stranded with ribose. The other comparisons reverse these features or confuse nucleic-acid structure with protein structure.
Storing genetic information for building proteins
Explanation
Nucleic acids store genetic information that directs cells in making proteins. Muscle development, enzyme activity, and immune support are functions associated with proteins.
They differ in their R groups
Explanation
The amino acids used in human proteins share the relevant basic structure but differ in their R groups. Peptide bonds join amino acids, but they are not the feature that distinguishes the 20 amino acids.
A chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds
Explanation
A polypeptide is formed when amino acids are connected into a chain by peptide bonds. A nucleotide has a sugar, phosphate, and nitrogen base rather than being an amino-acid chain.
Hydrolysis, with water added to split the bonds
Explanation
Hydrolysis breaks polymer bonds by adding water, producing smaller units such as monomers. Dehydration synthesis has the opposite role because it removes water while joining monomers.
Lock in the answers with 35 flashcards on Biomolecules Study Guide.
What are the four major biomolecules that make up life?
Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
What function do carbohydrates provide besides short-term energy?
Structure.
What functions do lipids provide in the body?
Long-term energy, warmth, and cushioning.
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