Carbohydrates - Basics Flashcards
Elements in carbohydrates
Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen
How do they help organisms
Serve as a source of energy
What are the different groups for carbohydrates
Monosaccharides (single sugar units)
Disaccharides (two sugar units linked together)
Polysaccharides (long chains of sugar units)
List the different monosaccharides
Glucose, fructose, galactose
The simplest forms of carbohydrates
Can be readily absorbed and used for energy by cells
List the different disaccharides
Sucrose (glucose + fructose)
Lactose (glucose + galactose)
Maltose (glucose + glucose)
How are disaccharides formed
By linking two monosaccharides together through a condensation reaction
What are polysaccharides
Complex carbohydrates composed of long chains of monomers
Eg starch, glycogen, cellulose
Function of carbohydrates
Crucial roles in cellular processes
Eg energy storage, structural support, cellular recognition
What are monomers
Smaller units from which larger molecules are made
What are polymers
Molecules made from a larger number of monomers joined together in a chain
How to break the glycosidic bond
When water is added
What are reducing sugars
- molecules that donate electrons ( the reducing agent
- eg glucose fructose and galactose
