Chapter 23, Problem 2RQ

To determine

The four major categories of biomolecules which are discussed in the chapter.

Answer to Problem 2RQ

The four major categories of biomolecules are carbohydrates, protein, vitamin and nucleic acids.

Explanation of Solution

The four major categories of biomolecules which are explained in the chapter are carbohydrates, protein, vitamin and nucleic acids.

The carbohydrate is one of the basic components of food and is also termed as saccharides. It is composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. The chemical structure of carbohydrate is composed of polyhydroxy aldehydes or polyhydroxy ketones.

Protein is the polymer of peptide which is composed of $>100$ $\text{α-}$ amino acid units. The interaction of $-{\text{NH}}_2$ group of one amino acid with $-\text{COOH}$ group of another amino acid leads to the formation of an amide linkage and these repeating units constitute a protein molecule.

The biomolecules which cannot be produced by the human body and must be supplied in small amounts in diet to perform the specific biological functions for the life, growth, and health of human beings and animal organism are referred to as vitamins.

The biopolymers which are present in the living system are known as nucleic acids. They are also termed as the polynucleotide because in their structural formula the repeating unit is nucleotide.

Conclusion:

The four major categories of biomolecules which are explained in the chapter are carbohydrates, protein, vitamin and nucleic acids.