Carbohydrates

Question 1

What is the physical structure of a monosaccharide?

Answer 1

Sugars contain 2 -7 carbon atoms.
Formula is C6H12O6
Nutrition is sugar in its simplest form for quick release
Glucose - found in grapes and peas
Fructose - similar to glucose different arrangement of atoms found in fruit and honey
Galactose - similar to glucose not found in foods but is produced when milk is broken down

Question 2

What is the structure of a polysaccharide?

Answer 2

Simple polysaccharides are long chains of one type of monosaccharide joined together
Big molecules and insoluble in water
Exist as a long chain
(C6H10O5)n n is number of monosaccharide units
Energy reserve for plants
Exists as amylose (straight chain of alpha glucose)
Or amylopectin (shorter branched chains of alpha glucose)
Sources are plants such as potatoes wheat rice corn and cereals
Slow release form of energy from the carbohydrate
Provide protein fat b group vits vit c potassium and iron

Question 3

What is the structure of non starch polysaccharide?

Answer 3

Non starch polysaccharide
Cellulose and pectin
Cellulose is insoluble NSP found mainly in plants such as grains rice vegetables and pulses
Pectin found in citrus fruits and apples
Arabinose found in pulses
Hold water and aid peristalsis
Cellulose give plants structure in the form of long fibres
Large molecules made of thousands of monosaccharides and made of beta glucose rather than alpha joined in 14 glycosidic bonds
Undigestable
NSP increases fullness speeds the passage of stools helps reduce bowel disorders and AIDS process of digestion