Details of Carbohydrates

What elements do carbs consist of?

Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen

What are the three types of monosaccharides?

glucose, fructose, galactose

What do all three monosaccharides have in common?

All monosaccharides have the same formula (C₆H₁₂O₆). However, since they all have different functions, they are considered isomers.

Glucose

A simple sugar whose primary source is to fuel cells in the body. It's a key product of photosynthesis and plays a crucial role in both cellular respiration and the production of ATP and NADH

Fructose

a simple sugar known for its sweetness found naturally in fruits, vegetables, and honey. It's known as a component of sucrose (table sugar), glucose, and is a key player in carbohydrate metabolism within the body

Galactose

a simple sugar that, along with glucose, makes up the disaccharide lactose (milk sugar). It's found in dairy products and some fruits and vegetables

Disaccharide

a type of sugar composed of two monosaccharides (simple sugars) joined together after going through dehydration synthesis. Common examples include sucrose (table sugar), lactose (milk sugar), and maltose

Dehydration Synthesis

a chemical process where two molecules are joined together to form a larger molecule, with the simultaneous removal of a water molecule. This reaction is crucial in the synthesis of larger biological molecules like carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids from their monomers

When determining the atomic number of a monosaccharide, what is one rule we can follow?

Oxygen is always half of Hydrogen

Polysaccarides

a large molecule (polymer) made up of many smaller sugar molecules (monosaccharides) linked together.

Starch

Carbs stored in plants

Glycogen

Carbs stored in the animals (liver and muscle) and fungi

Cellulose

Main component of the plant cell wall, giving them strength and rigidty

Chitin

a tough, protective substance found in the exoskeletons of insects and crustaceans, and the cell walls of fungi

Hydrolysis

The process of using H2O to break bonds b/w monomers

• aka, digestion