Ch 3 Biochemistry 3-2: Carbohydrates Flashcards
What are the four main classes of organic compounds essential to life processes of all living things?
carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids
What are carbohydrates?
Carbohydrates are organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
What is the ratio of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in carbs?
1 carbon: 2 hydrogen: 1 oxygen
What are the functions of carbohydrates?
- a source of energy (sugars, starches, glycogen)
- structural materials in organisms (cellulose, chitin)
What is a monosaccharide and what is it’s chemical formula?
It is one monomer of a carbohydrate or simple sugar. They have the same chemical formula of C6H12O6, but the atoms are structurally different in each.
What is a disaccharide?
Two monosaccharides that have joined in a condensation reaction to form a double sugar. (sucrose, lactose, maltose)
What do glucose and fructose combine to make?
sucrose
What do glucose and galactose combine to make?
lactose
What do glucose and glucose combine to make?
maltose
What is a polysaccharide?
A complex sugar made of three or more monosaccharides joined in a condensation reaction.
What are polysaccharides typically used for?
as an energy storage molecule or a structural molecule
What are some examples of polysaccharides?
starch, cellulose, and glycogen
What is starch and who is it used by?
It is a long chain of glucose molecules used by plants for energy storage. We get this stored energy when we eat potatoes, rice, corn, wheat, etc.
What is cellulose and how is it used?
It’s a large polysaccharide used by plants to give strength and rigidity to their cell wall. Humans cannot digest cellulose so it makes a good source of fiber in our diet.
What is glycogen and how is it used?
Glycogen is called “animal starch” and is the polysaccharide animals use to store carbohydrates. Humans store 24 hours worth of energy in the form of glycogen in our liver and muscles.
