Carbohydrates Flashcards
What 3 categories of carbohydrates are there?
Monosaccharides
Disaccharides
Polysaccharides
What elements do carbohydrates contain?
Carbo = carbon
Hydr = hydrogen
Ate = oxygen
Monosaccharides
Organic molecules that act as a monomer for complex carbs
General formula for monosaccharides
CₙH₂ₙOₙ
Examples of monosaccharides
Glucose
Galactose
Fructose
Glucose formula
C6H12O6
Glucose forms
Alpha
Beta
Isomers
Molecules with same chemical formula but different arrangements of atoms
2 isomers of powdered glucose
Alpha
Beta
Alpha glucose placement of hydroxide
Below the first carbon
Beta glucose placement of hydroxide
Above the first carbon
What type of monosaccharide is glucose?
Hexose = Contains 6 carbon atoms
Properties of monosaccharides
Soluble in water (HYDROPHILIC)
Monomer to form disaccharides and polysaccharides
Why are monosaccharides soluble in water?
They have many hydroxide (hydroxyl) groups which form hydrogen bonds with water molecules due to charges being attracted to each other
As hydroxyl groups are polar
Reducing sugars
Act as a reducing agent
By losing electrons from atoms which other substances gain
Such as indicators
Therefore = reduced
Disaccharide
Formed by the condensation of 2 monosaccharides
Forming a glycosidic bond between both monomers
and water
Glycosidic bond
Formed in a condensation reaction between 2 monosaccharides in OH groups where H2O is released from the compound leaving oxygen which connects the molecules
Disaccharide list
Maltose
Lactose
Sucrose
Maltose
Glucose and glucose
Lactose
Glucose + galactose
Sucrose
Glucose + fructose
Polysaccharide
A polymer of monosaccharides, formed from the condensation of many joined together by glycosidic bonds
Large macromolecules
What do polysaccharides hydrolyse into?
Monosaccharides or disaccharides
Function of polysaccharides
Store energy for use later eg in contraction
Structural role