1. Recognizing Biological Molecules
These slides are to help you practice recognizing biological molecules and characteristics of these molecules from their structure. Similar questions may appear on the exam.
Do not memorize the representations shown in this slide set, but practice with a variety of illustrations (e.g. from your textbook, ones you find online, etc.) because I can use a variety of different ways to illustrate the same molecule. For more about this, see the materials I have made available to review basic biological chemistry.
So how are you going to recognize the molecules? The best way is to look for features that are characteristic of that molecule such as functional groups, their shape, and their polarity.

2. Question #1
From which of the four main groups of biological molecules does the the following molecule belong? Explain your choice.

3. Question #2
What type of lipid is the following? Be as specific as possible.
-O - C - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH3 O
H2C
H C O
-O - C - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH3 O
-O - C - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH3

4. Question #3
Would you expect the following molecule to be soluble in water or nonpolar organic solvents? Explain your response.
CH3 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH3

5. Question #4
What type of molecule is shown below? The molecule is the building block/monomer for which of the four main groups of biological molecules?

6. Question #5
Highlight the portion of the molecule below that is polar and the portion that is nonpolar.
CH3 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - CH2 - C - OH O

7. Question #6
What level of protein structure is shown below and what bonds are holding it in place?
Which building block shown below is used to make proteins and what is it called? A B C D E