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A Handbook of Biology

Biomolecules are chemical compounds found in

living organisms. They include organic and inorganic

compounds

BIOMOLECULES

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1

Grind a living tissue (vegetable or piece of

liver etc.) in trichloroacetic acid (Cl3CCOOH)

to get a thick slurry.

2

Strain this through a cheesecloth or cotton

cloth to get two fractions such as filtrate

(acid-soluble pool) and the retentate

(acid-insoluble fraction).

3

The

filtrate

contains

micromolecules

(biomolecules having molecular weight

less than 1000 Dalton).

4

The retentate contains biomacromolecules

(biomolecules having molecular weight

higher than 1000 Dalton).

Weigh

a

living

tissue and dry it to

evaporate water.

It is fully burnt to

oxidize all carbon

compounds

to

gaseous form (CO2

&

water

vapour)

and are removed.

The remaining is

called 'ash'.

The ash contains

inorganic elements

(Ca,

Mg,

Na,

K

etc.) & inorganic

compounds

(SO4

2-, PO4

2-, NaCl,

CaCO3 etc.).

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