Name: Ian Lopez Period: 6
Using Dehydration Synthesis to Form Biomolecules
● For each section, you will be simulating the dehydration synthesis reaction to form biomolecules. In other
words, you will be removing water in order to join together two (or more) molecules.
● Use your notes to get an idea of the building block molecules you are using and the macromolecules you
are building.
● You will be building your molecules by cutting/pasting them together onto paper. When finished, label and
take a picture of each molecule and insert it into the appropriate box.
Pre-lab
1. Fill in the following table. Use your notes!
Macromolecule Monomer
Carbohydrate Monosaccharide
Lipid Fatty Acids + Glycerol
Protein Amino Acids
Nucleic Nucleotides
● Color all of the pieces accordingly, then cut out each piece neatly and individually.
● Use the provided scratch paper as a base to tape/glue and label all of your biomolecules.
Biomolecule #1
1. Place two of the green monomers into a chain and anywhere that two pieces touch, use the triangle
water molecule to point to the bond site. (remember: one water is always REMOVED from each bond
site during dehydration synthesis, so imagine the triangle is being removed in order to join the
pieces together)
2. Once you are sure you have the correct arrangement, glue/tape the pieces onto your scratch paper.
3. What is the name of this molecule?: disaccharide
○ This is NOT the name of the macromolecule. Hint: there are only two of these molecules put together.
4. Write the same name on your paper above the molecule you glued/taped down. Take a picture of this
molecule and insert it into the box below.
To insert your image, double click on the camera emoji to open the drawing menu. Click the icon to
upload your image. You can delete the camera emoji after you insert your image.
5. Place the remaining green monomers into a 5-unit chain. Anywhere that two pieces touch, use the
triangle water molecule to point to a bond site.
6. Once you are sure you have a correct arrangement, glue/tape the pieces down.
7. What is the name of this molecule?: Polysaccharide
○ Again, this is NOT the name of the macromolecule. There are “many” of these monomers put
together.
8. Write the same name on your paper above the molecule you glued/taped down. Take a picture of this
molecule and insert it into the box below.
Analysis Questions: use your models and notes to help answer the questions.
1. What is the name of the macromolecule you constructed? polysaccharide
2. What is the name of the monomer for this macromolecule? Monosaccharide
3. In order for each of the molecules to hook (bond) together you have to dehydrate them. What is the name
of the process if you want to break them apart? Dehydration Synthesis
a. Using your model, if you were to break apart the macromolecule you formed, what molecule would
you have to add between the glucose molecules? H 2O
4. What are the three main elements found in carbohydrates? Carbon and Oxygen and Hydrogen
5. What is the ratio of carbon to hydrogen to oxygen in carbohydrates? 1 : 2 : 1
Biomolecule #2
1. Construct a molecule using three of the orange monomers. In order for these monomers to be put
together, what “backbone” molecule must be used? Glycerol
2. Assemble the molecule into the correct shape (refer to the slides or look up online for the correct shape)
and anywhere that two pieces touch, use the triangle water molecule to point to the bond site.
3. Once you are sure you have the correct arrangement, glue/tape the pieces down on your scratch paper.
4. What is the name of this molecule that contains these three monomers with this backbone?
Triacylglycerol
5. Write the same name on your paper above the molecule you glued/taped down. Take a picture of this
molecule and insert it into the box below.
Analysis Questions: use your models and notes to help answer the questions.
1. What is the name of the macromolecule you constructed? Triglycerides
2. What two molecule types (monomers) are needed to form a molecule of fat/lipid? Glycerol∧Fatty acids
3. Use the three molecules of fatty acids and the glycerol shown below to answer the following question.
What 3 elements do fatty acids have in common with carbohydrates? Carbon and Hydrogen and Oxygen
Biomolecule #3:
1. Place four of the red monomers into a chain and anywhere that two pieces touch, use the triangle water
molecule to point to the bond site.
2. Once you are sure you have the correct arrangement, glue/tape the pieces down on your scratch paper.
3. This molecule is known as a 4-monomer Peptide Bond
4. Write the same name on your paper above the molecule you glued/taped down. Take a picture of this
molecule and insert it into the box below.
5. Place the remaining red monomers into a chain and anywhere that two pieces touch, use the triangle
water to point to the bond site.
6. Once you are sure you have the correct arrangement, glue/tape the pieces down on your scratch paper.
7. What is the name of this molecule? Use the same format as in step 3 including the number of monomers.
Peptide Bond
8. Write the same name on your paper above the molecule you glued/taped down. Take a picture of this
molecule and insert it into the box below.
Analysis Questions: use your models and notes to help answer the questions.
1. What is the name of the macromolecule you constructed? Peptide Bond
2. What is the name of the monomer for this macromolecule? Peptide Bond
3. Use the four molecules of amino acids below to answer the following questions.
a. What three elements do amino acids have in common with fatty acids AND carbohydrates?
Pentose Sugar and H 2O and Phosphate
b. What element do you notice here that you have not seen in the other molecules? Phosphate
Biomolecule #4:
1. The monomers for a molecule of DNA are nucleotide
a. This monomer is made up of what three components? Nitrogen + Sugar + Phosphate
2. Assemble the three components you listed above. You may have to look this up online so that you have
the correct structure. Anywhere that 2 pieces touch, use the triangle water to point to the bond site.
3. Once you are sure you have the correct arrangement, glue/tape the pieces down on your scratch paper.
4. What is the name of this molecule?: DNA∨RNA
5. Write the same name on your paper above the molecule you glued/taped down. Take a picture of this
molecule and insert it into the box below.
6. Now you will make a molecule of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). ATP is very similar to DNA, but it has two
extra…?
7. Assemble your molecule of ATP. Anywhere that two pieces touch, use the triangle water to point to the
bond site.
8. Once you are sure you have the correct arrangement, glue/tape the pieces down on your scratch paper.
9. Write the name of this molecule on your paper above the molecule you glued/taped down. Take a picture
of this molecule and insert it into the box below.
Analysis Questions: use your models and notes to help answer the questions.
1. If you were to bond these monomers together, what would be the name of the macromolecule?
2. What are the two types of nucleic acids? deoxyribonucleic and ribonucleic
3. For a molecule of DNA, the bases in a nucleotide pair up in the following way: A — T and G — C
4. For a molecule of RNA, the bases in a nucleotide pair up in the following way: A — U and G — C
