Organic Molecules: Carbohydrates

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary related to organic molecules and carbohydrates, useful for understanding definitions, concepts, and characteristics in preparation for exams.

Organic Compounds

Molecules where carbon forms covalent bonds with other carbon or hydrogen atoms.

Methane

The simplest organic molecule with the formula CH4.

Functional Groups

Specific groups of atoms that are responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of those molecules.

Isomers

Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structures.

Monosaccharides

Simple sugars; the basic building blocks of carbohydrates.

Disaccharides

Carbohydrates formed from two monosaccharides by a condensation reaction.

Polysaccharides

Carbohydrates composed of long chains of monosaccharide units.

Hydrolysis

The process of breaking down polymers into monomers by the addition of water.

Glycosidic Bond

A type of covalent bond that joins carbohydrate (sugar) molecules together.

Aldose

A monosaccharide that contains an aldehyde group.

Ketose

A monosaccharide that contains a ketone group.

Cis-Trans Isomers

Stereoisomers that differ in the spatial arrangement of groups attached to a double bond.

Enantiomers

Stereoisomers that are mirror images of each other.

Cellulose

A polysaccharide that is a major component of plant cell walls.

Starch

A polysaccharide carbohydrate that serves as a form of energy storage in plants.

Glycogen

A polysaccharide that serves as a form of energy storage in animals.

Carbohydrates Formula

General formula C(H2O)n, where 'n' indicates the number of carbon atoms.

Chitin

A structural polysaccharide that forms the exoskeleton of arthropods.

Condensation Reaction

A chemical reaction in which two or more molecules combine to form a larger molecule, releasing water.