Question 1 (10 Marks)

a) Define the following terms (3 Marks)

i. Buffer
Answer: A buffer is a solution (substance or mixture) that resists a
change in pH when acids or bases are added to it.
ii. Stereoisomers
Answer: Stereoisomers are molecules with the same structural
formula but different arrangements of atoms in 3D space.
iii. Isotope
Answer: Two atoms with the same number of protons, but different numbers of
neutrons are called
b) Explain THREE (3) importance of biochemistry in livestock health and
productivity (3 Marks)
Answer:

 Knowledge of biochemistry helps to understand diseases hence their diagnosis and

treatment (drug administration and functionality-pharmacology)
 It's applied in Disease prevention through vaccinations, proper nutrition, parasite
control, and environmental management -all based on biochemistry
 Manufacture of pharmaceuticals - drugs and vaccines and their use to treat and
prevent animal diseases
 Animal nutrition - feeding animals a diet that is aligned to biological and
physiological processes or needs of the animal for faster growth, more production,
and avoidance of nutritional disorders.
 Molecular biology is used in the genetic manipulation of organisms to come up with
plant/crop varieties of higher nutritive value for faster growth and production of
animals.
 Genetic fingerprinting of animals: Genetic fingerprinting is a method used to identify
an individual (animal) from a sample of DNA by looking at unique patterns in their
DNA
 Genetic manipulation of rumen microbes to improve the efficiency of rumen activity
 Development of genetically engineered immunodiagnostic and immune-prophylactic
agents as well as veterinary vaccine
 Other appropriate answers

c) State and explain two (2) types of bonds found in biomolecules (2

Marks)
Answer:
 Covalent bond: Covalent chemical bonds involve the sharing of a pair of
valence electrons by two atoms.
 Ionic bonds: A chemical bond formed when one atom gives up one or more electrons to
another atom. / Bond formed through the complete transfer of electrons; the attraction
between the oppositely charged ions so formed constitutes the ionic bond.
  Hydrogen bonds: Is a force of attraction between a hydrogen atom in one molecule and a
small atom of high electronegativity in another molecule.
 Coordinate/Dative Covalent bond: A covalent chemical b❑❑ ond between two atoms that is
produced when one atom shares a pair of electrons with another atom lacking such a pair.
Also known as a coordinate covalent bond, one of the two atoms bonded supplies all of the
shared electrons.

d) Write the electron configuration of the following elements in terms

of orbitals (2 Marks)
i. Beryllium with an atomic number of 4.
Answer: 1s22s2
ii. Neon with an atomic number of 10.
Answer: 1s22s22p6
Question 2 (10 Marks)
a) Draw the following organic molecules (3 Marks)
i. Hept-2-yne
Answer: H 3 C−C ≡C−CH 2−CH 2 −CH 3

ii. 3-Methylpent-1-ene

Answer: CH3

HC=CHCHCH2CH3

iii. Propanoic acid

Answer: CH 3−CH 2−COOH

b) Identify the following functional groups (3 Marks)

i. R−NH2
Answer: Amine
ii. R-COOH
Answer: Carboxylic acid
iii. R-CHO
Answer: Aldehyde
c) For the following classes of organic compounds state TWO (2)
properties. (4 Marks)
i. Lower molecular weight ALKENES (ethene and propene).
 Ethene and propene are colourless gases at room temperature
 They are sweet-smelling.
 Non-poisonous,
 Insoluble in water,
 Soluble in organic solvents,
 Slightly less dense than air.
 Other alkenes show a gradation in their physical properties as the
molecular mass increases.
 ii. Lower molecular weight ALKYNES (ethyne, propyne).
 Colourless gases with a pleasant smell when pure;
 Insoluble in water
 Soluble in organic solvents
 Slightly less dense than air
 The first three alkynes are gases at room temperature
 The boiling points and density increase with the increase in relative
molecular mass.
NOTE: The trend in the melting points of the alkynes is not well
defined.
Question 3 (10 Marks)
a) Answer the following questions:
i. Provide TWO (2) classes of simple carbohydrates and TWO (2)
examples of molecules in each group. (2 Marks)
Answer:
 Monosaccharides: Glucose, fructose etc
 Disaccharides: Lactose, Sucrose, Maltose etc

ii. Outline TWO (2) physical properties of simple carbohydrates (2

Marks)
Answers
Monosaccharides
 Highly soluble in water but insoluble in organic solvents
 Most have a sweet taste with fructose being the sweetest naturally
occurring monosaccharide.
 They are optically active meaning they can rotate plane-polarized light
due to chiral centers.
 They are crystalline solids at R.T. when pure.
 They have high melting points but do not melt uniformly but decompose
at high temperatures e.g. cameralization.
Disaccharides
 Are generally soluble in water.
 Are crystalline solids when purified
 They are sweet tasting: The degree of sweetness varies.
 They are optically active (Can rotate plane-polarized light): Sucrose is
dextrorotatory-rotates light to the right
b) Answer the following questions
i. Differentiate between homopolysaccharides and
heteropolysaccharides (1 Mark)
Answer:
Homo-polysaccharides: Single type of monosaccharide (e.g., starch,
glycogen, cellulose, dextran, chitin)
Hetero-polysaccharides: Multiple types of monosaccharides (e.g.,
hemicellulose)
ii. What is glycogen? How is it different from starch? (2 Marks)
 Glycogen is a polysaccharide that is made up of glucose molecules
linked together primarily by α (1→4) glycosidic bonds, with branching
points introduced by α (1→6) bonds approximately every 8–12 glucose
units.
 Glycogen differs from starch in that it is found in animals and fungi while
starch is found in plants.
iii. Name two types of starch and outline ONE (1) difference between
them. (2 Marks)
Answer: Amylose and Amylopectin
Differences:
• Amylose forms a linear chain whereas amylopectin is highly branched.
• Amylose exists in helical structures whereas amylopectin is crystalline
in nature.
iv. State TWO (2) functions of carbohydrates (1 Mark)
 Chief/instant source of energy
 Energy storage – glycogen
 Intermediates in the biosynthesis (anabolism) of fats and proteins
 Important components of receptors, antigens (glycoconjugates, ABO
blood group), and integral membrane components (glycoproteins).
 Adhesion (cell-cell recognition)
 Antigen recognition/Immune system modulators
 Structural and protective components in plants, microbes, and animals –
cellulose, chitin
 Components of connective tissues in animals (acidic polysaccharides,
lignin, murein)