Monosaccharides

Question 1

Carbs

Answer 1

• most abundant biomolecules
• initially synthed in plants from a complex series of reactions involving photosynthesis as glucose was thought to be a hydrated form of carbon

Question 2

Functions of carbs

Answer 2

• stores energy
• structural
• specialised roles when modified and complex with other monosaccharides

Question 3

Unmodified carbs

Answer 3

Monosaccharides- simple sugars
Disaccharides - 2 linked monosaccharides
Oligosaccharides - short chains/clusters
Polysaccharides- 100’s/1000’s monosaccharides

Question 4

Monosaccharides

Answer 4

• colourless, crystalline solids
• water soluble
• most sweet
• open chain and ring
• chain with 3 or more carbons
• each C has OH except one
• one C has carbonyl group
  Two families:
• Aldose sugars
• ketone sugars

Question 5

Aldehyde

Answer 5

• Can be oxidised to carboxylic acid
• If oxidised (losing e-), so act as reducing agents
• So sugars with aldehyde groups are reducing sugars

Question 6

Ketones

Answer 6

• Can be reduced to form alcohols but can’t be oxidised

- shouldn’t be considered reducing sugars but they are

Question 7

Ribose

Answer 7

- Important in nuclei county structure
Classified as: 
- monosaccharides
- aldoses
- pentoses 
- reducing sugars

Question 8

Testing for glucose

Answer 8

Low:
- insufficient carb intake
-excess medication 
- recent exercise
High:
- excess dietary intake
- insufficient medication
- recent inactivity
-stress/run down