New
New
Year 10
AQA
Foundation

Biological molecules

I can describe carbohydrates, proteins and lipids as biological molecules and what they are made of.

New
New
Year 10
AQA
Foundation

Biological molecules

I can describe carbohydrates, proteins and lipids as biological molecules and what they are made of.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Organisms are made of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids (including fats), plus water and minerals.
  2. Carbohydrates, proteins and lipids are used to build cell structures including membranes and organelles.
  3. Carbohydrates are polymers made of sugars.
  4. Proteins are polymers made of amino acids.
  5. Lipids are molecules made of fatty acids and glycerol.

Keywords

  • Polymer - A polymer is a molecule made of many repeated units.

  • Sugar - Sugars are the units used to build large carbohydrate molecules.

  • Amino acid - Amino acids are the units used to build protein molecules.

  • Fatty acid - A fatty acid is one of two units used to build lipid molecules.

  • Glycerol - Glycerol is one of two units used to build lipid molecules.

Common misconception

Confusion often arises over which monomers are used to build which polymers.

The lesson clearly explores carbohydrates, proteins and lipids as separate sections and covers the monomers and the polymers they form with care and repetition.

Use beads and string or a paperchain to build monomers into polymers and add some practical activity into the lesson.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these foods are a good source of carbohydrates?
Correct answer: bread
carrots
Correct answer: pasta
steak
apples
Q2.
Match the food group to its use in the body.
Correct Answer:lipids,used for energy and insulation

used for energy and insulation

Correct Answer:carbohydrates,used as an energy source

used as an energy source

Correct Answer:proteins,used for growth and repair

used for growth and repair

Q3.
What is the name of the process used by plants to make glucose?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: photosynthesis
Q4.
True or false? Glucose is a sugar.
Correct answer: true
false
Q5.
What two fuels are needed for aerobic respiration?
nitrogen
Correct answer: oxygen
Correct answer: glucose
carbon dioxide
water
Q6.
Which biological molecules are made from fatty acids and glycerol?
Correct answer: lipids
carbohydrates
proteins

6 Questions

Q1.
What three elements do carbohydrates contain?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: carbon
nitrogen
Correct answer: hydrogen
Correct answer: oxygen
sulfur
Q2.
Which of the following are polysaccharides?
maltose
Correct answer: cellulose
Correct answer: glycogen
Correct answer: starch
glucose
Q3.
Which statements about proteins are not true?
The order of amino acids is coded for by DNA.
Proteins are polymers.
Correct answer: Proteins are monomers.
Proteins are made from amino acids.
Antibodies are proteins.
Q4.
Which of these is a use for lipids in an organism?
An image in a quiz
preventing disease
making cell walls
Correct answer: making cell membranes
carrying oxygen
making enzymes
Q5.
Organisms are made of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and minerals.
Correct Answer: water
Q6.
Match the word to its description.
Correct Answer:polymer,a molecule made of many repeated units

a molecule made of many repeated units

Correct Answer:sugar,the units used to build large carbohydrate molecules

the units used to build large carbohydrate molecules

Correct Answer:amino acids,the units used to build protein molecules

the units used to build protein molecules

Correct Answer:glycerol,one of two units used to build lipid molecules

one of two units used to build lipid molecules

Correct Answer:monomer,a molecule made of one unit

a molecule made of one unit