Properties of Carbohydrates

What is Starch used for

Storage in plants

What is Cellulose used for

Cell walls in plants

What is Glycogen used for

Storage (in liver and muscles in animal cells)

Why is being Insoluble useful

Doesn’t affect water potential, no effect on osmosis

Why is being large useful

Doesnnot diffuse out of cells

Why is being compactuseful

A lot can be stored in a small place

Why is having Hydrogen bonding between chains in cellulose useful

Many hydrogen binds increase collective strength

Why is being made of alpha glucose useful

Easily hydrolysed for efficient use in respiration

Why is being branched useful

Many ends which enzymes can act on simultaneously, releasing monomers rapidly

Why is having microfibrils in cellulose useful

Grouping fibres into bunches increases strength further

Monosaccharide

Sweet tasting soluble substances with the general formula (CH2O)n

3 types of monosaccharides

Glucose

Galactic

Fructose

How are disaccharides formed

Formed from the condensation of two monosaccharides

Examples of diaccharides

Maltese

Lactose

Sucrose

How to form Polysaccharide

Formed from the condensation of many monosaccharides

Examples of polysaccharides

Glycogen

Starch

Cellulose