Carbohydrates: Glucose and Glycosidic Bonds

Practice vocabulary flashcards covering the structure of glucose isomers, condensation and hydrolysis reactions, and glycosidic bond formation.

Hexose monosaccharide

A six-carbon, single-unit carbohydrate compound, such as glucose.

Alpha glucose

A type of glucose molecule in which the hydroxyl group on carbon 1 ($C_1$) is positioned below the ring.

Beta glucose

A type of glucose molecule in which the hydroxyl group on carbon 1 ($C_1$) is positioned above the ring.

Glycosidic bond

A bond formed between glucose molecules, specifically between carbon 1 and carbon 4 or carbon 1 and carbon 6.

Condensation reaction

A chemical reaction in which two glucose molecules join together and release a water molecule.

Hydrolysis

A reaction that breaks down a glycosidic bond using a water molecule, derived from 'hydro' (water) and 'lysis' (breaking down).

1-4 glycosidic bond

A glycosidic linkage formed between carbon 1 of one glucose molecule and carbon 4 of another, forming a straight chain.

1-6 glycosidic bond

A glycosidic linkage formed between carbon 1 and carbon 6 of two glucose molecules, which allows a branch to form from a straight chain.

Disaccharide

A molecule formed when two glucose monosaccharides join together through a condensation reaction.

Amylopectin

A component of starch structured with straight chains of glucose molecules linked by 1-4 glycosidic bonds and branch points formed by 1-6 glycosidic bonds.