Module 6 - Carbohydrates

A collection of key vocabulary terms related to carbohydrates, their types, structures, and significant examples.

Carbohydrates

Essential nutrients that are a major source of energy, made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

Monosaccharides

The simplest carbohydrates; the building blocks for other carbohydrates. Examples include glucose and fructose.

Disaccharides

Consist of two monosaccharide units; examples include lactose and sucrose.

Polysaccharides

Consist of many monosaccharides; examples include starch and fiber.

Aldoses

Monosaccharides that have an aldehyde group.

Ketoses

Monosaccharides that have a ketone group.

Triose

Monosaccharide structure containing three carbon atoms.

Tetrose

Monosaccharide structure containing four carbon atoms.

Pentose

Monosaccharide structure containing five carbon atoms.

Hexose

Monosaccharide structure containing six carbon atoms.

Fischer Projection

An open chain structure used to represent carbohydrates.

Haworth Structure

A cyclic structure used to represent monosaccharides.

Chiral Molecule

A molecule that has a non-superimposable mirror image, typically containing a chiral center.

Chiral Center

Typically a carbon atom bonded to four different atoms or groups.

Stereoisomers

Molecules that have the same molecular formula and structure but differ in the three-dimensional orientation of their atoms.

D and L Monosaccharides

Monosaccharides classified based on the orientation of the hydroxyl group on the chiral carbon furthest from the carbonyl group.

Galactosemia

A condition where the enzyme needed to convert D-galactose to D-glucose is missing, leading to accumulation of galactose in the blood.

D-Fructose

The sweetest carbohydrate, a ketohexose obtained from the hydrolysis of sucrose.