Carbohydrate Chemistry Notes

Carbohydrates are naturally occurring compounds, primarily hydrates of carbon with the formula (C<em>x(H</em>2O)y)(C<em>x(H</em>2O)_y), serving as a key energy source and dietary fiber.

Classes include:

  • Monosaccharides (single sugar units)

  • Disaccharides (two sugar units), which will be covered in Lecture 4

  • Polysaccharides (many sugar units).

Monosaccharides are classified as aldoses (containing an aldehyde group).

Key concepts include:

  • Fischer projections to represent stereochemistry.

  • D and L isomers determined by the OH group

  • Hemiacetal and acetal formation leading to cyclic structures.

  • Anomeric carbon formation

  • Mutarotation between alpha and beta anomers.

  • Chair conformations for stability.

  • Reducing sugars with a free aldehyde group that can be oxidized, detectable via the silver mirror test.