Carbohydrates

carbohydrate

Carbon molecules combined with water.

monomer

One of many small molecules that combine to form a larger one known as a polymer.

polymer

Large molecule made up of repeating smaller molecules (monomers).

monosaccharide

The monomer unit of carbohydrates.

disaccharide

A pair of monosaccharides.

polysaccharide

Formed from many monosaccharides.

glycosidic bond

Bond formed by the removal of water when joining monosaccharides.

hydrolysis

The addition of water that splits apart molecules in reactions.

condensation

A reaction resulting in the removal of a molecule of water.

starch

A polysaccharide found in plants; its main role is energy storage.

glycogen

A polysaccharide found in animals and bacteria; main role is energy storage.

cellulose

A polysaccharide; major component of plant cell walls.

pentose

A five carbon sugar, e.g. ribose and deoxyribose.

hexose

A six carbon sugar, e.g. glucose and fructose.