Building Monomers of Macromolecules Gummi Bear Lab

Introduction:
The term macromolecule by definition implies "large molecule". In the context of
biochemistry, the term may be applied to the four large molecules that mae up organisms !!!
nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. Macromolecules are made of smaller subunits
called monomers.
Materials:
3 nitrogen (green)
6 carbon (red)
6 oxygen (orange)
12 hydrogen (white or yellow)
Toothpicks
Tas:
"onstruct each of the follo#ing monomers and ans#er the $uestions. %fter constructing each
monomer, raise your hand to be checed to see if it correct.
&'M'MB'&: Molecules are (!dimensional so models #ill not al#ays be flat)
Background info: Living cells are made up of mostly water. The rest of the cell is largely made up of
compounds that contain Carbon. Living things are made up of proteins, DNA, fats, and sugars. All of these
molecules are made of Carbon. Carbon containing compounds are called organic. norganic compounds
do not contain carbon. Therefore, living things are composed of organic compounds.
During this lab activity, you will be e!ploring the structure of these compounds. This will involve ma"ing
s"etches and models. There will also be several #uestions that you must answer on your answer sheet. $or
your drawings %s"etches& you will need colored pencils to indicate the elements involved:
Atoms 'oin together to form molecules. These molecules are held together by bonds. n this lab you will use
toothpic"s to represent the bonds. mportant note: use one toothpic" to represent a single covalent bond,
and two toothpic"s to represent a double covalent bond. Remember, covalent bonds are bonds in which
electrons are shared.
()*: +ingle covalent bond

Double covalent bond
Part I: Proteins
,
Name:
-eriod:
Proteins are made of subunits called amino acids and are used to build cells and do much of the work
inside organisms. They also act as enzymes helping to control metabolic reactions in organisms.
Amino acids contain two functional groups, the carboxyl group (-!!"# and the amino group (-$"
%
#.
There are %& amino acids, each characterized by their different ', or remainder, groups.
"onstruct Glycine.
*lace a B+, around the amino group on this picture.
"ircle the carboxyl group on this picture.
-. The term (amino) refers to the group of atoms *$"%. +ind each amino group and draw a s,uare
around it. -abel.
.. (!!") is called a carboxyl group. .raw a circle around the carboxyl group. -abel.
(. /hat are the monomers of proteins0
1. 2ame ( things attached to the center carbon in %LL amino acids.
a.
b.
c.
3. 4o# many amino acids exist0 55555555
6. /hat element is found in amino acids that isn7t found in simple sugars lie glucose or
fructose0
8. %mino acids 9oin together to mae #hat type of macromolecule0
:. /hat are some of the functions of proteins in the body0 ;List se<eral=
a. b. c.
.
/ /
/ 0 / 0
N C C N C C
/ 0 / / 0 /
/ C / /
/
%L%2I2' GL>"I2'
?. /hat is the difference bet#een these t#o amino acids0
-@. 2o# mae these t#o amino acids #ith your gummi bears. Brea a toothpic in half and use
both stics to sho# the double bond.
--. /e #ill no# form a AdipeptideB. This molecule is made by combining the . amino acids.
The bond connecting the . amino acids is called a peptide bond.
/hat does the prefix AdiB refer to in this molecule0 5555555555555
Cipeptide
-.. "onnect your t#o gummi models as sho#n abo<e.
-(. /hat molecule #as remo<ed bet#een the t#o amino acids0
Part II: Carbohydrates
1
/
/
/
/
/ / /
0
0 /
arbohydrates are an organic molecule that is an important energy source for the body as well as
structural components for plants. /e commonly refer to carbohydrates as sugars and starches.
0imple sugars are called monosaccharides.
"onstruct glucose or fructose #ith Gummi bears.
-1. Look at the glucose molecule.
How many Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen atoms are there?
C_____________ H______________ O_____________
-3. 4a<e you or your partner construct the glucose model.
The other partner #ill construct the fructose model.
-6. /hat is the ratio of carbon to hydrogen to oxygen. 0ee ,uestion 123. 'educe to lowest common
denominator.
44444445 " 44444445 ! 4444444
-8. Dimple sugars lie glucose are called
5M 555 555 555 555 555 555 555 555 555 555 555 555 555 5D5.
-:. /hat is the primary function of carbohydrates for the body0
19. Sucrose (table sugar), can be made by joining the glucose and fructose
molecules together. Glucose and fructose are both monosaccharides. (mono=one,
saccharide). What then, would be an aroriate name for Glucose since you are
combining ! monosaccharides together" #$int% use re&'(
)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
2
/
3lucose
/
/
/
/
45emember
The C binds to
the
0 here
/
/
/
/
.@. 2o# combine the t#o by remo<ing an +4 from glucose and an 4 from fructose.
GLE"+D'
!1. $ow is this rocess similar to joining amino acids to ma*e a dietide"
!!. +ame three olysaccharides we ha,e tal*ed about.
a. b. c.
!-. "opy the disaccharide belo# using the proper colors for each element.
"arbons are red, oxygens are orange, and hydrogens are yello#.
;'x. see glucose and fructose belo#=.
Part III: ipids
-ipids are large, nonpolar (won6t dissol7e in water# molecules. -ipids are basically fats, oils, and waxes.
-ipids ha7e more carbon and hydrogen atoms than oxygen atoms. +ats are made of a glycerol (alcohol#
and three fatty acid chains. This subunit is called a triglyceride.
"onstruct Glycerol.
*lace a "I&"L' around a hydroxyl group. The hydroxyl group is +4.
6
/.0
7ond the C
to the 0
/
/
C
/
/
.1. Glycerol is one of t#o molecules that mae up a monomer no#n as
5T5 555 555 555 555 555 555 555 555 555 555 555 5D5.

.3. Besides glycerol, #hat other molecules mae up a triglyceride0
.6. Triglycerides are the monomers for #hat type of macromolecule0
.8. Gi<e ( types of lipids.
a. b. c.
.:. "onstruct the fatty acid belo#.
*lace a B+, around the hydrocarbon ;"4= chain on this picture.
"ircle the carboxyl ;"++4= group on this picture. Three of these tails together forms the
triglyceride, #hich is the subunit of lipids.
Part I!: "ucleic acids
$ucleic acids carry the genetic information in a cell. .$A or deoxyribose nucleic acid contains all the
instructions for making e7ery protein needed by a li7ing thing. '$A copies and transfers this genetic
information so that proteins can be made. The subunits that make up nucleic acids are called
nucleotides.
"onstruct "ytosine.
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(@. "onstruct cytosine. Ese a split toothpic to represent the double bond.
(-. "ytosine is an example of a nitrogen base found on 555555555555555 acids.
(.. 2ame the . nucleic acids found in organisms.
((. "ytosine is a subunit of nucleic acids called #hat0
(1. Draw the nitrogenous base Cytosine below, color code the elements of it, and color the
sugar backbone and the hoshate grou. !ake sure to color code it "#$base$gummi colors
%yes you ha&e to color code cytosine' ( )ugar$ blue, *hoshate$ *ink+
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