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Carbohydrates Definition

  • Carbohydrates are molecules that contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
  • There are twice as many hydrogen atoms as carbon or oxygen atoms.
  • The general formula for a carbohydrate can be written as Cx(H2O)y.
  • They act as the source of energy (e.g. glucose), as a store of energy (e.g. starch and glycogen) and as structural units (e.g. cellulose in plants and chitins in insects).

Carbohydrates- Monosaccharides, Disaccharides, Polysaccharides | Biology and Biochemistry for MCAT

  • Most carbohydrates are polymers.
  • Polymers are large, complex molecules composed of long chains of monomers.
  • Monomers are small, basic molecular units.
  • Carbohydrates can be divided into three groups: monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides.

Monosaccharides – Structure, Properties, and Examples

Carbohydrates- Monosaccharides, Disaccharides, Polysaccharides | Biology and Biochemistry for MCAT

  • Monosaccharides are simple sugars in which there are one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms for each carbon atom present in the molecule.
  • They have general formula as (CH2O)n.
  • Monosaccharides are reducing sugars.
  • The test for reducing sugar is called Benedict’s test.
  • They are sugars, which taste sweet, are soluble in water and are insoluble in non-polar solvents.
  • They exist in straight chains or in the ring or cyclic forms.
  • They are classified according to the number of carbon atoms in each molecule as trioses (3C), tetroses (4C), pentoses (5C), hexoses (6C), heptoses (7) and so on.
  • The names of all sugars end with -ose.
  • Examples: Glyceraldehyde (triose), Erythrose (tetrose), Ribose (pentose), Glucose (hexose), Fructose (hexose), Galactose (hexose), Sedoheptulose (heptose), etc.
  • They are used as a source of energy in respiration.
  • They are important building blocks for large molecules.

Disaccharides – Structure, Properties, and Examples

  • Disaccharides are made up of two monosaccharides joined together by a condensation reaction.

Carbohydrates- Monosaccharides, Disaccharides, Polysaccharides | Biology and Biochemistry for MCAT

  • The condensation reaction is the joining of two molecules with the formation of a new chemical bond and a water molecule is released when the bond is formed.
  • A glycosidic bond is formed between two monosaccharides. If carbon 1 on one monosaccharide joins to carbon 4 on another monosaccharide, it is called a 1,4-glycosidic bond.

Carbohydrates- Monosaccharides, Disaccharides, Polysaccharides | Biology and Biochemistry for MCAT

  • Examples: Maltose is formed from two α-glucose molecules joined together by a glycosidic bond. Sucrose is formed from a condensation reaction between a glucose molecule and a fructose molecule. Lactose is formed from glucose and a galactose molecule.
  • Sucrose is a non-reducing sugar.
  • Disaccharides can be split apart into two monosaccharides by breaking the glycosidic bond by adding water molecules, which is known as hydrolysis reaction. The water provides a hydroxyl group (-OH) and hydrogen (-H), which helps the glycosidic bond to break.
  • Sucrose is the transport sugar and Lactose is the sugar found in milk which an important constituent of the diet of young mammals.

Polysaccharides – Structure, Properties, and Examples

  • Polysaccharides are polymers formed by combining many monosaccharide molecules (more than two) by condensation reactions.
  • Molecules with 3-10 sugar units are known as oligosaccharides while molecules containing 11 or more monosaccharides are true polysaccharides.
  • Polysaccharides do not taste sweet.
  • Because their molecules are so enormous, the majority of polysaccharides do not dissolve in water.
  • Polysaccharides made solely from one kind of monosaccharides are called homopolysaccharides (Starch) while those made of more than one monomer are called heteropolysaccharides (Hyaluronic acid).

Carbohydrates- Monosaccharides, Disaccharides, Polysaccharides | Biology and Biochemistry for MCAT

  • Starch is made up of long chains of α-glucose (Amylose and Amylopectin). Glycogen is made of α-glucose linked together by glycosidic bonds. Cellulose is also made of many β-glucose molecules linked by glycosidic bonds between carbon 1 and carbon 4.
  • Starch is the main energy storage materials in plants. Glycogen is the main energy storage materials in animals. Cellulose is the major component of cell walls in plants.
  • The test for starch is called an Iodine test.

Carbohydrates- Monosaccharides, Disaccharides, Polysaccharides | Biology and Biochemistry for MCAT

The document Carbohydrates- Monosaccharides, Disaccharides, Polysaccharides | Biology and Biochemistry for MCAT is a part of the MCAT Course Biology and Biochemistry for MCAT.
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