AQA A-level Biology — Biological Molecules flashcards
10 of 76 cards free to study here · 1 topic · the whole deck is built into Willys
AQA A-level Biology topic 1: monomers and polymers, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and enzymes (required practical 1), DNA and RNA, replication, ATP, water and inorganic ions, with the food tests and mark-scheme terms.
Learn deck · part of AQA A-level Biology · written against: AQA AS and A-level Biology (7401/7402) specification, version 1.6, July 2026 (eight topics). Updated 2026-10-10.
Study the free sample
10 cards from the deck as they are. Flip, rate yourself, filter by topic; your progress stays in this browser.
Tap the card or press Space to flip
The 10 sample cards as a list
-
Which three kinds of monomer does the AQA course name, and which polymer does each build?Monosaccharides → polysaccharides, amino acids → polypeptides, nucleotides → polynucleotides.Biological Molecules › Monomers and Polymers
A polymer is a large molecule made of many monomers joined together. -
What happens to the two molecules in a condensation reaction?They are joined by a new chemical bond and a molecule of water is eliminated.Biological Molecules › Monomers and Polymers
Glycosidic, peptide, ester and phosphodiester bonds all form this way. -
What does a hydrolysis reaction do?It breaks the chemical bond that links two molecules, and a water molecule is used up in the process.Biological Molecules › Monomers and Polymers
Watch out: water is used in hydrolysis and released in condensation; examiners penalise mixing them up. -
Amylase in the small intestine turns starch into maltose. Which type of reaction is this?Hydrolysis — glycosidic bonds are broken and water is used up.Biological Molecules › Monomers and Polymers
Digestion of every polymer is hydrolysis, which is why the products have more mass than the polymer they came from. -
Why is the shared biochemistry of all living things treated as evidence for evolution?All cells use the same few groups of carbon-based molecules and the same genetic code, which points to a common ancestor.Biological Molecules › Monomers and Polymers
It is indirect evidence: it fits common descent but does not show the steps. -
Which three hexose monosaccharides does the AQA course name?Glucose, galactose and fructose.Biological Molecules › Carbohydrates
All three share the formula C₆H₁₂O₆ but differ in structure, so they are isomers of one another. -
What bond forms when two monosaccharides join, and by what reaction?A glycosidic bond, formed by a condensation reaction.Biological Molecules › Carbohydrates
One water molecule is released for every glycosidic bond made. -
Which monosaccharides make up maltose, sucrose and lactose?Maltose: glucose + glucose; sucrose: glucose + fructose; lactose: glucose + galactose.Biological Molecules › Carbohydrates
Mnemonic: galact- means milk, and lactose is milk sugar. -
How does the structure of β-glucose differ from α-glucose?On carbon 1 the H and OH groups are reversed: the OH is below the ring in α-glucose and above it in β-glucose.Biological Molecules › Carbohydrates
That small change decides whether glucose units form starch and glycogen (α) or cellulose (β). -
Which polysaccharides are made from α-glucose and which from β-glucose?Starch and glycogen are made from α-glucose; cellulose is made from β-glucose.Biological Molecules › Carbohydrates
So starch and glycogen are energy stores while cellulose is structural.
Unlock the whole deck
You are studying a free 10-card sample. All 76 cards of AQA A-level Biology — Biological Molecules, the other 8 AQA A-level Biology decks, and spaced-repetition scheduling are built into Willys. 14-day free trial, then $14.99 a year.
In Willys, tap Exam Library at the top of your Decks (or Browse Exam Library… under the + button), find the exam on its shelf or by search, tick it and tap Add.
More AQA A-level Biology decks
← All AQA A-level Biology decks, with the study guide and topic outline.
About these cards
Review status: Second-reader reviewed, with corrections applied.
Checked against:
- Topic outline follows the AQA AS and A-level Biology (7401/7402) specification, version 1.6 (July 2026) (outline only; no specification text reproduced).
- OpenStax Biology 2e, consulted as a reference; no text copied.
- Required practical and colorimetry cards checked against the AQA AS and A-level Biology required practical handbook, version 2.3 (January 2026) (reference only; no text copied).
These are independent study notes written for Willys. They are not official exam material, may contain mistakes, and are no substitute for your course, your teacher or the exam owner's own publications. Found an error? Tell us — corrections ship as a new version of the deck.
AQA is a registered trademark of AQA Education, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this product.
Use of these pages is covered by our Terms of Use.