Carbohydrates Flashcards
What are carbohydrates?
Carbohydrates are polymers made from monosaccharides
What are examples of monosaccharides?
Glucose, fructose and galactose
What bond is formed between monosaccharides and disaccharides?
Glycosidic bonds
What are the isomers of glucose and state their structure?
•Alpha and beta glucose
• Alpha has an hydroxyl group facing downwards
• Beta has an hydroxyl group facing upwards
Characteristics of Monosaccharides
Sweet-tasting, Crystal form, white
Structure of glucose and fructose?
Glucose is a hexose while fructose is a pentose
What are the main elements in carbohydrates
Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
What is the reverse reaction of condensation in the body?
Digestion
What are Disaccharides?
Disaccharides are formed from the condensation of two monosaccharides
List examples of Disaccharides?
Sucrose, maltose and lactose
Which of the disaccharides is a reducing sugar?
Sucrose
List the formulas of disaccharides
Maltose = glucose + glucose
Sucrose = glucose + fructose
Lactose = glucose + galactose
Describe the reducing sugars test
• Add Benedict’s reagent to food sample
• Put in a water bath that has been brought to boil
• Wait for 5 minutes
• Wait till color changes from blue to brick-red
Describe the non-reducing sugars test
• Following the negative reducing sugars test
•Add an acid (HCL) to hydrolysis the bonds
• Add an alkali (NAOH) to neutralize the acid
• Add Benedict’s reagent and heat in a water bath that has been brought to boil
• Wait for 5 minutes
• Reaction is positive if it turns from blue to brick-red
What is the function of a colorimeter
To measure the absorption