Key Concepts - Week 6 - Carbohydrates

Question 1

What is the most abundant biomolecule on the planet?

Answer 1

Carbohydrates (sugars)

Question 2

What percentage of human food do they represent?

Answer 2

50-60% of human food

Question 3

Carbohydrates have _________, _________ & _________ and most have the empirical formula of…? Explain the ‘n’

Answer 3

Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen

C(H2O)n (n is the number of carbons and is higher or equal to 3)

Question 4

Which atoms do some carbohydrates also have?

Answer 4

Nitrogen, Sulfur or Phosphorus atoms

Question 5

General name of carbohydrates normally ends in….? Example?

Answer 5

–ose (e.g. glucose, sucrose, fructose)

Question 6

Carbohydrates can be referred to as…?

Answer 6

carbohydrates, sugars or saccharides (saccharide comes from the Greek word for sugar)