Work through the list without notes. If you cannot do a statement, follow its link, then come back. Guide = study guide; Practice = practice questions.
Understanding
- I can explain that monosaccharides are the monomers of complex carbohydrates, and name glucose, fructose, galactose, ribose and deoxyribose as examples. (Guide: “Monosaccharides: the monomers”)
- I can describe how two monosaccharides join by a covalent bond with the loss of one water molecule, and how hydrolysis reverses this. (Guide: Figure 1; Practice Q4)
- I can name the monomers of maltose, sucrose and lactose. (Guide: “Joining sugars”)
- I can tell a linear polysaccharide from a branched one in a diagram. (Guide: Figure 2; Practice Q4)
- I can state where starch, glycogen and cellulose are found, whether each is linear or branched, and what each does. (Guide: “Linear or branched”; Practice Q1)
- I can explain why storing glucose as a large polymer is better than storing free glucose. (Guide: “Storage polysaccharides”)
Calculation and skills
- I can count the monomers, links and water molecules in a carbohydrate chain, using n − 1 links for n monomers. (Guide: Worked example 1; Practice Q2, Q4)
- I can write the formula and calculate the molar mass of a short chain of glucose units. (Guide: Worked example 1; Practice Q4)
- I can use a simple model to calculate how the number of chain ends changes the rate of glucose release. (Guide: Worked example 2; Practice Q6)
- I can identify the variables and the purpose of each control in an enzyme experiment on starch and cellulose. (Practice Q5)
Reasoning
- I can explain why branching lets glycogen release glucose quickly. (Guide: Worked example 2; Practice Q3)
- I can explain how straight cellulose chains and hydrogen bonds between them make strong fibres. (Guide: “Structural polysaccharides”; Practice Q7)
- I can predict and justify the effect of a change in branching on glucose release. (Practice Q6)
- I can explain why humans cannot digest cellulose even though it is made of glucose. (Guide: “Background”; Practice Q5, Q7)
All ticked? Move on to Topic 1.5: Lipids, or return to the course roadmap.