AP Biology : Macromolecules

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Biology

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #51 : Macromolecules

A chain of 4 to 28 carbons with a carboxyl group at one end is a __________.

Possible Answers:

fatty acid

phospholipid

polypeptide

steroid

Correct answer:

fatty acid

Explanation:

A fatty acid consists of a hydrocarbon chain (carbons bound to hydrogen), with even numbers of carbons from 4 to 28, and a carboxyl group at one end. A triglyceride consists of three fatty acids with their carboxyl end bound to glycerol via an ester bond.

Example Question #52 : Macromolecules

The heads of phospholipids are __________.

Possible Answers:

hydrophilic

hydrocarbons

lipophilic

hydrophobic

Correct answer:

hydrophilic

Explanation:

The heads of phospholipids contain a glycerol group and a phosphate group. Both of these groups contain atoms other than hydrogen and carbon, so they are not hydrocarbons. Since phosphate is negatively charged, and glycerol contains oxygens, this part of the molecule is water soluble. In other words, it is hydrophilic, lipophobic, and polar. 

Example Question #53 : Macromolecules

In a cell membrane, phospholipids are arranged in a __________.

Possible Answers:

micelle

bilayer

monolayer

trilayer

Correct answer:

bilayer

Explanation:

Phospholipids are arranged in bilayers with the hydrophilic heads of pointing out towards the aqueous solutions inside and outside the cell. The hydrophobic tails point towards each other and are in the interior of the membrane. This unique structure allows cells to be water soluble, yet have a protective membrane that is selectively permeable to small, uncharged, hydrophobic molecules such as gasses and steriod hormones. Micelles are spheres of fatty acids in solution, where their heads are on the surface of the sphere, and their tails aggregate in the center of the sphere, avoiding the aqueous environment. Micelles are usually formed by lipids with single fatty acid tails, not two, as is seen in phospholipids. 

Example Question #12 : Identify Structure And Purpose Of Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, And Nucleic Acids

A lipid that consists of two fatty acids and a phosphate group linked to glycerol is a __________.

Possible Answers:

monoglyceride

carbohydrate

steroid

phospholipid

Correct answer:

phospholipid

Explanation:

A phospholipid has two fatty acid tails, which consist of hydrocarbons with even numbers of carbons ranging from 4 to 28, and a phosphate group attached to a glycerol head, which is hydrophilic. Monoglycerides contain only one fatty acid chain bound to a glycerol head, and triglycerides contain three fatty acid chains. 

Example Question #18 : Identify Structure And Purpose Of Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, And Nucleic Acids

What is the resulting molecule if a triacylglycerol has one of its fatty acid chains replaced with a phosphate group?

Possible Answers:

Saturated fatty acid

Diglyceride

Phospholipid

Steroid

Correct answer:

Phospholipid

Explanation:

A fat (triglyceride/triacylglycerol) consists of three fatty acids linked to glycerol. A phospholipid consists of two fatty acids and a phosphate group linked to glycerol. Thus removing a fatty acid from a triglyceride and replacing it with a phosphate group will yield a phospholipid. Diglycerides contain similar structures to triglycerides, but only have two fatty acid chains bound to the glycerol head. Steroids are lipids, but do not contain fatty acids. Rather they contain four hydrocarbon rings, and they are all derived from cholesterol. The saturation of a fatty acid refers to the presence of hydrogens anywhere they can potentially be present. A saturated fatty acid is said to be saturated with hydrogens.

Example Question #21 : Identify Structure And Purpose Of Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, And Nucleic Acids

The tails of phospholipids are __________.

Possible Answers:

hydrophobic

polar

lipophilic

hydrophilic

Correct answer:

hydrophobic

Explanation:

The tails of phospholipids consist of hydrocarbons only. Thus they are nonpolar, hydrophobic, lipophilic and fat-soluble.  

Example Question #54 : Macromolecules

In a cell membrane, the tails of the phospholipids point towards __________.

Possible Answers:

The exterior of the membrane, away from water

either the interior or the exterior of the membrane, depending on the type of cell membrane

the interior of the membrane, away from water

the exterior of the membrane, towards water

Correct answer:

the interior of the membrane, away from water

Explanation:

The tails of phospholipids are hydrocarbons and are thus hydrophobic so they point towards the interior of the membrane to avoid contact with the aqueous solutions of the cytoplasm and the extracellular fluid.  

Example Question #55 : Macromolecules

A given molecule has a structure containing a carbon skeleton of four fused rings. Which of the following is it most likely to be?

Possible Answers:

Cholesterol

Fat

Phospholipid

Fatty acid

Correct answer:

Cholesterol

Explanation:

Cholesterol is class of lipids known as steroids. All steroids have four fused carbon rings in their structures. Fats, fatty acids and phospholipid do not contain any ring structures. Fatty acids are components of both fats and phospholipids and are long chains of hydrocarbons. Phospholipids contain two fatty acids attached to a polar head and a phosphate group.

Example Question #56 : Macromolecules

In a cell membrane, the heads of the phospholipids point toward __________.

Possible Answers:

None of these; it varies randomly throughout the membrane.

the interior of the membrane, away from water

the exterior of the membrane, facing water

Cannot be determined without knowing the type of cell membrane

Correct answer:

the exterior of the membrane, facing water

Explanation:

The heads of phospholipids are hydrophilic and so they will face the exterior of the cell membrane in order to interact with the aqueous environments of the extracellular fluid and the cytosol. The hydrophobic tails will face the interior of the membrane to avoid water contact.

Example Question #23 : Identify Structure And Purpose Of Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, And Nucleic Acids

Lipids consist mostly of __________.

Possible Answers:

oxygen

glycogen

hydrocarbons

amino acids

Correct answer:

hydrocarbons

Explanation:

Lipids are mostly made up of hydrocarbons, which makes them nonpolar and thus, hydrophobic. Glycogen is a type of carbohydrate; it is the storage form of glucose in animals. Amino acids are the monomeric units of polypeptides.  

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors