1.2 - Carbohydrates - Monosaccharides Flashcards
What are carbon atoms unusual feature?
They very easily form bonds with other carbon atoms
What is it called when a sequence of carbon atoms of various lengths build up?
A Backbone - along which other atoms can be attached
What are carbon contsing molecules called?
Organic molecules
Many orgnaic molecules are made up of chains, what are the indervidual molecules that make up these chains called?
Monomers
Give me three examples of a monomer
- Monosaccharide
- Amino acids
- Nucleotides
Monomers can join together to form what?
A polymer
Give me two examples of a polymer
- Carbohydrates
- Proteins
What is the basic monomer of a charboydrate?
Sugar
What is the other name for sugar?
Saccharide
What is the name for a single monomer of carbohydrates?
Monosaccharide
What is the name of 2 joined monosaccharides?
Disaccharide
What is the name of many joined monosaccharides?
Polysaccharide
Give me 4 examples of monosaccharides?
- Glucose
- Galactose
- Fructose
- Sucrose
What are the two isomers of glucose?
- A - glucose (alpha)
- B - glucose (beta)
What is the differnece between alpha and beta glucose?
In alpha glucose, the -OH group on carbon 1 is below the plane ring, while in beta glucose, its above the plane
All monosaccharides and some disaccharides are what?
Reducing sugars
What is reduction?
A chemical reaction involving the gain of electrons or hydrogen
What is a reducing sugar?
A sugar that can donate electrons to another chemical
What is the test for reducng sugars called?
Benedict’s test
Is Benedict’s solution acidic or alkaline?
Alkaline
Give the method of the Benedict’s test
- Add 2cm^3 of the food sample to be tested to a test tube. If the sample is not already a liquid form, first grind up in water
- Add a equal volume of Benedict’s reagent
- Heat up the mixture in a gently boiling bath for 5 minutes
What is the colour change in the benedicts test if a reducing sugar is present
Turn from blue black to orange brown
