Carbohydrates Flashcards
What is a monomer?
Small, basic molecular units such as glucose and amino acids.
What is a polymer? Give examples.
Molecule made from a long chain of monomers, e.g. polysaccharides, polypeptides, nucleic acids
What is a monosaccharide and the general formula? Give examples
Specific monomers from which larger carbohydrates are made. E.g. glucose, galactose, fructose. Are single, reducing sugars. The general formula is C6H1206
What are disaccharides? What is the GF? Give three examples.
Two monosaccharides joined together by a glycosidic bond in a condensation reaction. Double sugars. E.g. sucrose, maltose, lactose. The general formula C12H22O11.
What are polysaccharides? What is the general formula? Give three examples.
A chain of monosaccharides joined together by a condensation reaction with glycosidic bonds. E.g. starch, glycogen and cellulose. General formula is C6H10O5
What is a condensation reaction?
Where smaller molecules join together to form a larger molecule with the exit of water.
What is hydrolysis?
The breakdown (lysis) of a larger molecule into smaller molecules by the addition of water (hydro).
What is sucrose? What colour does it give off in the Benedict’s test.
Glucose + fructose, it’s a disaccharide. It’s a non-reducing sugar and therefore gives a negative, blue reaction in the Benedict’s test.
What is maltose?
Glucose + glucose, a disaccharide.
What is lactose?
Glucose + galactose, it’s a disaccharide
What is amylose?
Straight, long unbranched polysaccharide chains, helix structure for max storage.
What is amylopectin?
A branched form of starch which has the max surface area for enzyme action.
What is starch? Why is it good for its function and where is it found?
Starch is a polysaccharide made of alpha glucose. It is found in the cytoplasm and chloroplasts of plants. It’s compact and has long chains and is helical and branched which makes it great for storage. It’s also insoluble.
What is glycogen? Why is it good for its function and where is it found?
Glycogen is a polysaccharide made of alpha glucose. It’s found in the liver and muscle tissue. It is highly branched with free ends that can be rapidly hydrolysed for quick energy and respiration. It’s insoluble.
What is cellulose? Why is it good for its function and where is it found?
Cellulose is a polysaccharide made of beta glucose. It’s found in the cell walls of plants, and its embedded matrix of macrofibrils offer ridgidity and shape. They have a long straight chain.
