Chemistry Of Carbohydrates Flashcards
What are carbohydrates?
Hydrates of carbon, which means they are carbon structures with water added to them
What is the general formula for carbohydrates?
Cn(H2O)n
What are the functions of carbohydrates?
Energy source
Energy storage
Structural roles
Conversion to other compounds
Biological importance
Describe the energy source function
Carbohydrates are the primary energy providers for body cells, particularly brain cells and red blood cells producing 4 kcal /g
Describe the energy storage function
Carbohydrates are stored as starch in plants and glycogen in animals
Describe the structural roles function
Carbohydrates are essential components of RNA, DNA, plant cell walls, bacterial cell walls, and insect exoskeletons
Describe the conversion to other compounds function
Excess carbohydrates can be converted into lipids and non-essential amino acids, contributing to fat storage and protein synthesis
Describe the biological importance
What are the structural classification of carbohydrates
Monosaccharides
Disaccharides
Oligosaccharides
Polysaccharides
Define monosaccharides
Simple sugars, those that cannot be hydrolysis further into simpler forms
Define disaccharides
Those sugars that yield two molecules of the same or different molecules of monosaccharides on hydrolysis
What is the general formula of disaccharides?
Cn (H2O) n-1
Define oligosaccharides
Composed of 3 to 12 monosaccharide units, they are important in forming glycoproteins and glycolipids
Define polysaccharides
Those sugars that yield more than twelve molecules of monosaccharides on hydrolysis
What is the general formula of polysaccharides
(C6H10O)n
Polysaccharides are further divided into what two groups
