monosaccharides

What are reducing sugars?

Sugars that can donate electrons and therefore act as reducing agents.

What does a reducing sugar do?

It donates electrons and becomes oxidised.

What are examples of reducing sugars?

Glucose, fructose and galactose.

What are non-reducing sugars?

Sugars that cannot donate electrons.

What is an example of a non-reducing sugar?

Sucrose.

What are monosaccharides?

Single sugar units that act as monomers for larger carbohydrates.

How can monosaccharides differ?

They can contain different numbers of carbon atoms and have different structures.

What is a triose?

A monosaccharide containing 3 carbon atoms.

What is a pentose?

A monosaccharide containing 5 carbon atoms.

What is a hexose?

A monosaccharide containing 6 carbon atoms.

What is an example of a triose?

A 3-carbon sugar.

What is an example of a pentose?

Ribose.

What is an example of a hexose?

Glucose.

What is the molecular formula of glucose?

C₆H₁₂O₆.

Why is glucose important?

It is an important source of energy and is soluble.

What is an isomer?

Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structures and therefore potentially different properties.

What are glucose, fructose and galactose?

Isomers because they have the same molecular formula but different structures.

What are ribose and deoxyribose?

Pentose sugars with 5 carbon atoms.

Where is ribose found?

RNA.

Where is deoxyribose found?

DNA.

How are ribose and deoxyribose similar?

They have similar structures and are both pentose sugars.

How does deoxyribose differ from ribose?

Deoxyribose has one less oxygen atom than ribose.

What is the difference between α-glucose and β-glucose?

They have the same molecular formula but differ in the position of the OH group on carbon 1.

Where is the OH group in α-glucose?

Below the ring.

Where is the OH group in β-glucose?

Above the ring.

What happens to glucose in aqueous solution?

It forms a ring structure.

Why are α-glucose and β-glucose important?

Different polysaccharides are formed from the two isomers.

Which polysaccharides are made from α-glucose?

Starch and glycogen.

Which polysaccharide is made from β-glucose?

Cellulose.

Is starch made from α- or β-glucose?

α-glucose.

Is glycogen made from α- or β-glucose?

α-glucose.

Is cellulose made from α- or β-glucose?

β-glucose.