BIOMOLECULES

1. What is meant by ‘reducing sugars’?

Reducing sugar contains aldehydic or ketonic group in the hemiacetal and hemiketal forms and
can reduce Tollen’s reagent or Fehlmg’s solution.
2. What are monosaccharides?
These are the simplest carbohydrates which cannot be hydrolysed to smaller molecules. Their
general formula is (CH2O)n where n = 3 – 7 Example : glucose, fructose etc.
3. Write the structure of the product obtained when glucose is oxidised with nitric acid

4. Write a reaction which shows that all the carbon atoms in glucose are linked in a straight chain.
On prolonged heating with HI, it forms n-hexane, shows that all the six carbon atoms are linked
in a straight chain :

5. What are the expected products of hydrolysis of lactose ?

On hydrolysis, lactose gives P-D-galactose and p-D-glucose.
6. Where does the water present in the egg go after boiling the egg?
Denaturation of proteins is a process that changes the physical and biological properties of
proteins without affecting the chemical composition of protein. In an egg, denaturation of
protein is the coagulation of albumin present in the white of an egg. When an egg is boiled in
water, the globular proteins present in it change to a rubber like insoluble mass which absorbs
all the water present in the egg by making hydrogen bond with it.
7. Name a water soluble vitamin which is a powerful antioxidant. Give its one natural source.
Water soluble vitamin : Vitamin C Natural source : Amla
8. What are three types of RNA molecules which perform different functions?
m-RNA, t-RNA, r-RNA
9. What is a glycosidic linkage?
The two monosaccharide units are joined together through an etheral or oxide linkage formed
by loss of a molecule of water. Such a linkage between two monosaccharide units through
oxygen atom is called glycosidic linkage.
10. What are the products of hydrolysis of sucrose?
Invert sugar: An equimolar mixture of glucose and fructose is obtained by hydrolysis of sucrose
in presence of an acid such as dil. HC1 or the enzyme invertase or sucrase and is called invert
sugar.
11. Write the name of linkage joining two amino acids.
Peptide linkage joins two amino acids.
12. Name the deficiency diseases resulting from lack of Vitamins A and E in the diet.
Deficiency of Vitamin A causes Xerophthalmia and deficiency of Vitamin E causes Sterility.
13. Name one oil soluble vitamin which is a powerful antioxidant and give its one natural source.
Oil soluble Vitamine : Vitamin D Natural source : Fish liver oil, butter, milk, eggs etc.
14. Name the products of hydrolysis of lactose.
Lactose on hydrolysis with dilute acids gives an equimolar mixture of D-glucose and D-
galactose.

15. Name the only vitamin which can be synthesized in our body. Name the disease caused due to
the deficiency of this vitamin.
Vitamin which can be synthesized in our body : Vitamin A
Its deficiency causes Xerophthalmia.
16. Mention one important function of nucleic acids in our body.
Function of nucleic acid : Nucleic acids control the transmission of hereditary characters from
one generation to another.
17. Which of the two components of starch is water soluble?
Amylose is water soluble component of starch.
18. Name the products of hydrolysis of sucrose.
Glucose and fructose are the products of hydrolysis of sucrose.
19. Which component of starch is a branched polymer of a-glucose and insoluble in water?
Amylopectin.
20. What are the products of hydrolysis of sucrose?
Glucose and fructose.
21. What are the products of hydrolysis of maltose?

22. Write the products of hydrolysis of lactose.

Lactose on hydroloysis with dilute acids gives an equimolar mixture of D-glucose and D-
galactose.

23. What are enzymes?

Enzymes are protein molecules which act as catalyst in biochemical reaction.
24. Explain what is meant by
(i) a peptide linkage (ii) a glycosidic linkage.
(i) Peptide linkage: A peptide linkage is an amide linkage formed between – COOH group of
one α-amino acid and NH2 group of the other a-amino acid by loss of a molecule of water.

(ii) Glycosidic linkage : The two monosaccharide units are joined together through an etheral or
oxide linkage formed by loss of a molecule of water. Such a linkage between two monosaccharide
units through oxygen atom is called glycosidic linkage.
25.Name the four bases present in DNA. Which one of these is not present in RNA?
The four bases present in DNA are :
(i) Adenine (A) (ii) Guanine (G) (iii) Cytosine (C) (iv) Thymine (T)
In RNA, Thymine (T) is absent. It has Uracil (U) in place of Thymine.
 26.Explain the following terms :
(i) Invert sugar (ii) Polypeptides
(i) Invert sugar : An equimolar mixture of glucose and fructose obtained by hydrolysis of
sucrose in presence of an acid such as dil. HCl or the enzyme invertase or sucrase is called
invert sugar. (ii) Polypeptides : They are formed when several molecules of a-amino acids are
joined together by peptide bonds.

27.What are essential and non-essential amino acids in human food? Give one example of each
type.
Essential amino acids : Amino acids which the body cannot synthesize are called essential amino
acids. Example : Valine, leucine etc. Therefore they must be supplied in diet.Non-essential amino
acids : Amino acids which the body can synthesize are called non-essential amino acids. Therefore,
they may or may not be present in diet.Example : Glycine, alanine etc.
28.State clearly what are known as nucleosides and nucleotides.
Nucleoside : A nucleoside contains only two basic components of nucleic acids i.e. a pentose sugar
and a nitrogenous base. During their formation 1-position of the pyrimidine or 9-position of the
purine moitey is linked to C1 of the sugar (ribose or deoxyribose) by a β-linkage.

Nucleotides : A nucleotide contains all the three basic components of nucleic acids, i.e. a
phosphoric acid group, a pentose sugar and a nitrogenous base. These are formed by esterification
of C5‘ – OH of the sugar of the nucleoside with phosphoric acid.

29.What is essentially the difference between a-form of glucose and p-form of glucose? Explain.
In a-α-glucose, the OH group at C1 is towards right while in p-D-glucose, the OH group at C1 is
 towards left.

30.Describe what you understand by primary structure and secondary structure of proteins.
Primary structure of proteins : Proteins may have one or more polypeptide chains. Each
polypeptide in a protein has amino acids linked with each other in a specific sequence which is
known as primary structure of protein.
Secondary structure of proteins : The conformation which the polypeptide chains assume as a result
of hydrogen bonding is called the secondary structure of the protein.Depending upon the size of the
R groups, the two different secondary structures are possible which are :
α-Helix structure : Intramolecular H-bonds present between the C = O of one amino acid and N
– H of fourth amino acid.β-Pleated sheet structure : The two neighbouring polypeptide chains
are held together by intermolecular H-bonds.
31.Write the main structural difference between DNA and RNA. Of the four bases, name those
which are common to both DNA and RNA.

DNA RNA

1. The sugar present in DNA is 2-deoxy-(-) ribose. 1. The sugar present in RNA is D-(-) ribose.

2. DNA contains cytosine and thymine as pyrimidine 2. RNA contains cytosine and uracil as pyrimidine
bases. bases.

3. DNA has double standard α-helix structure. 3. RNA has single stranded α-helix structure.

The base which are common to both DNA and RNA are :Adenine ( A) Guanine (G)
Cytosine (C)
32. Write such reactions and facts about glucose which cannot be explained by its open chain
structure.
Limitations of the open chain structure of glucose :Glucose does not form NaHSO3 addition
product. Despite having aldehyde-ammonia group, it does not respond to 2,4-DNP test and does not
respond to Schiff’s reagent test.Glucose penta acetate does not react with NH2OH due to absence of
aldehydic group.
33. Write down the structures and names of the products formed when D-glucose is treated with
(i) Hydroxylamine (ii) Acetic anhydride.
(i) D-glucose reacts with hydroxylamine to form oxime.
 (ii) D-glucose reacts with acetic anhydride to give penta-acetate.

34. Write down the structures and names of the products formed when D-glucose is treated with
(i) Bromine water (ii) Hydrogen Iodide (Prolonged heating).

35. Differentiate between fibrous proteins and globular proteins. What is meant by the denaturation
of a protein?

Globular Proteins Fibrous Proteins

Globular proteins have almost spheroidal shape due to 1. Polypeptide chains of fibrous proteins consist of thread
olding of the polypeptide chain. like molecules which tend to lie side by side to form fibres.

2. Globular proteins are soluble in water. 2. Fibrous proteins are insoluble in water.

3. Globular proteins are sensitive to small changes of

3. Fibrous proteins are stable to moderate changes of
emperature and pH. Therefore they undergo denaturation on
temperature and pH.
heating or on treatment with acids/bases

4. They possess biological activity that’s why they act as 4. They do not have any biological activity but serve as chief
nzymes. structural material of animal tissues.
Example: Maltase, invertase etc., hormones (insulin) Example: Keratin in skin, hair, nails and wool, collagen in
ntibodies, transport agents (haemoglobin), etc. tendons, fibroin in silk etc.

(ii)Denaturation of protein : Due to coagulation of globular protein under the influence of change
in temperature, change in pH etc., the native shape of the protein is destroyed and biological
activity is lost and the formed protein is called denaturated proteins and the phenomenon is
denaturation.
36. What are the different types of RNA found in cells of organisms ? State the functions of each
type.
Different types of RNA found in the cell are :
1. Messenger RNA (mRNA): carries the message of DNA for specific protein synthesis.
2. Ribosotnal RNA (rRNA) : provides the site for protein synthesis.
3. Transfer RNA (t-RNA): transfers amino acids to the site of protein synthesis.

DNA RNA

1. The sugar present in DNA is 2-deoxy-(-) ribose. 1. The sugar present in RNA is D-(-) ribose.

2. DNA contains cytosine and thymine as pyrimidine bases.

2. RNA contains cytosine and uracil as pyrimidine bases.

3. DNA has double standard α-helix structure. 3. RNA has single stranded α-helix structure.

37. (a) Write the structural and functional differences between DNA and RNA
(b) Name two components of starch.
(a) Structural difference :
Adenine (A)The base which are common to both DNA and RNA are :
1. Guanine (G)
2. Cytosine (C)
Functional difference : DNA’s main function is to control cell activities like telling each organ what
to make and what to do. RNA’s main function is to make protein.
(b) Components of starch : Amylose and amylopectin.
38. (i) Which one of the following is a polysaccharide :
Starch, Maltose, Fructose, Glucose?
(ii) What one difference between a-helix and P-pleated sheet structure of protein.
(iii) Write the name of the disease caused by the deficiency of Vitamin B12.
(i) Starch is a polysaccharide.
(ii) α-Helix structure : The polypeptide chains are held together (stabilized) by intramolecular H-
bonding.
β-Pleated sheet structure : The two neighbouring polypeptide chains are held together by
intermolecular , H-bonding.
(iii) Disease caused by the deficiency of Vitamin B12 is Pernicious anaemia.