Carbohydrates Flashcards
Monomer
Single unit
Polymer
Many repeating single units
Polymerisation
The process of joining monomers to form polymers
Monosaccharide
Monomers such as glucose, galactose, fructose and ribose
Disaccharide
Two monomers joined together such as maltose, sucrose and lactose
Maltose
Glucose + glucose
Sucrose
Glucose + fructose
Lactose
Glucose + galactose
1,4 glycosidic bond
An oxygen bond between carbons 1 and 4 on glucose monomers
Condensation reaction
A reaction in which one of the products in water (H2O)
Alpha glucose
A hexoses sugar which has the hydrogen on the top of carbon 1 and the hydroxide on the bottom of carbon 1
Beta glucose
A hexoses sugar that has its hydroxide on the top of carbon 1 and it’s hydrogen on the bottom of carbon 1
Ribose
Ribose is a pentose sugar, it is the sugar component of RNA nucleotides
Polysaccharides
Three or more monomers joined together such as starch, cellulose and glycogen
Starch
Amylose and amylopectin
The store of glucose in plants
Amylose
Made from a-glucose, joined by 1,4 glycosidic bonds. With a coiled structure to reduce space used. Also with no branches.
Amylopectin
Made of a-glucose with 1,4 glycosidic bonds. Also using 1,6 glycosidic bonds which allows for branches. Also using a coiled structure.
Amylopectin branches
Easier to break off (protects the amylose) to create energy during a hydrolysis reaction. This makes it a quick energy source that is also insoluble as it does not affect the water potential of the cell.
Glycogen
Storage polysaccharide in animals
Alpha glucose
1,4 and 1,6 glycosidic bonds for many branches (more than starch)
Cellulose
Structural building molecule
Beta glucose
Formation of the 1,4 glycosidic bonds are only possible if one of the beta glucose molecules is followed vertically
