1.2 — carbohydrates: introduction Flashcards
what are carbohydrates?
carbohydrates are molecules that contain the elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
what does the ‘carbo’ in carbohydrates show about a biological molecule?
that the molecule contains the element carbon
what does the ‘hydrate’ in carbohydrates show about a biological molecule?
that it contains hydrogen and oxygen atoms in a ratio of 2:1 (like water — H2O)
what is the general formula for a carbohydrate?
Cx(H2O)Y
what are the 5 roles of carbohydrates in living organisms?
- energy supply for cells — the main role
- energy storage — sugars can be stored as complex carbohydrates (e.g. starch or glycogen)
- structural components — cellulose and chitin are used in cell walls
- cellular recognition — glycoproteins help cells identify each other and communicate
- building blocks for biological molecules — deoxyribose and ribose can be used to make nucleic acids
how many subunits does a monosaccharide contain?
one
give three examples of a monosaccharide:
glucose, fructose and galactose
what is a monosaccharide’s main function?
energy source
how many subunits does a disaccharide contain?
two
give three examples of a disaccharide:
maltose, sucrose and lactose
what is a disaccharide’s main function?
transport form
how many subunits does a polysaccharide have?
many
give three examples of a polysaccharide:
starch, glycogen, cellulose
what is a polysaccharide’s main function?
storage form
what is an example of carbohydrates being used for energy storage in living organisms?
sugars can be stored as complex carbohydrates, e.g. starch or glycogen