biochem

Carbohydrates

Organic molecules consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms, typically in a 1:2:1 ratio, serving as a primary energy source.

Monosaccharides

The simplest form of carbohydrates, consisting of single sugar units that cannot be hydrolyzed into simpler sugars.

Disaccharides

Carbohydrates formed by the linkage of two monosaccharides through a glycosidic bond.

Polysaccharides

Large, complex carbohydrates composed of long chains of monosaccharide units, often serving energy storage or structural functions.

Glucose

A monosaccharide that is the primary energy source for cells, particularly in cellular respiration.

Sucrose

A disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose, commonly known as table sugar.

Lactose

A disaccharide composed of glucose and galactose, the sugar found in milk.

Glycogen

Polysaccharide that serves as the form of stored glucose in animals, primarily in the liver and muscles.

Cellulose

A polysaccharide that provides structural support in plant cell walls and is not digestible by humans.

Tetravalency

Carbon's ability to form four covalent bonds with other elements, contributing to the diversity of organic molecules.