Carbohydrates

• What are the elements that make up carbohydrates?

  Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
• What is the basic unit of carbohydrates?

  A monosaccharide
• How do two monosaccharides combine?

  They combine to form a disaccharide
• What is formed when many monosaccharide molecules combine?

  A polysaccharide
• What is the general formula for monosaccharides?

  (CH₂O)ₙ
• How are the names of monosaccharides determined?

  By the number of carbon atoms (n) in the molecule
• What is a triose sugar?

  A sugar with three carbon atoms
• What is a pentose sugar?

  A sugar with five carbon atoms
• What is a hexose sugar?

  A sugar with six carbon atoms
• What type of sugar is glucose?

  A hexose sugar
• How are the carbon atoms of a hexose numbered?

  They are numbered 1–6
• What is the common formula for all hexose sugars?

  C₆H₁₂O₆
• How do hexose sugars differ from each other?

  They differ in their molecular structure
• What happens to the carbon atoms of monosaccharides when dissolved in water?

  They form a ring structure
• What is the equilibrium state of monosaccharides in solution?

  They can alter their binding to make straight chains or form rings
• What are the two isomers of glucose?

  α-glucose and β-glucose
• What causes the biological differences in polymers formed from glucose?

  The different forms of glucose (isomers)
• What are the types of carbohydrates and their basic units?

  • Monosaccharides: Basic unit
  • Disaccharides: Formed from two monosaccharides
  • Polysaccharides: Formed from many monosaccharides
• What are the structural differences between α-glucose and β-glucose?


  • α-glucose: (OH) group on the first carbon is below the plane
  • β-glucose: (OH) group on the first carbon is above the plane
• What are monosaccharides primarily used for in respiration?

  As a source of energy
• How do monosaccharides release energy during respiration?

  By breaking carbon-hydrogen and carbon-carbon bonds
• What molecule is produced from the energy released during respiration of monosaccharides?

  Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
• What role do monosaccharides play in the formation of larger molecules?

  They act as building blocks
• Which monosaccharide is specifically mentioned as a building block for polysaccharides?

  Glucose
• What polysaccharides are made from glucose?

  • Starch
  • Glycogen
  • Cellulose
• What are trioses and their role in biological processes?

  They are intermediates in the reactions of respiration and photosynthesis
• What are nucleotides composed of that are derived from monosaccharides?

  Constituents such as deoxyribose and ribose
• Which monosaccharide is found in DNA?

  Deoxyribose
• Which monosaccharide is found in RNA?

  Ribose
• What are the two forms of adenosine mentioned that contain monosaccharides?

  ATP and ADP
• What are disaccharides formed from?

  Disaccharides are formed by joining two monosaccharide units.
• What type of bond is created when two monosaccharides join to form a disaccharide?

  A glycosidic bond is created.
• What is released during the formation of a disaccharide from monosaccharides?

  A water molecule is released.
• What type of reaction occurs when disaccharides are formed?

  A condensation reaction occurs.
• In the formation of a specific disaccharide, which carbons are involved in the removal of water?

  Water is removed between carbon 4 (C4) of one glucose molecule and carbon 1 (C1) of another.
• What type of glycosidic bond results from the specific example described in the text?

  The resulting bond is a 1,4-glycosidic bond.
• How is the disaccharide molecule characterized in terms of its structure?

  The disaccharide molecule is straight (not twisted).
• What specific type of glycosidic bond is identified due to the straight structure of the disaccharide?

  The bond is specifically identified as an α-1,4-glycosidic bond.
• What are the component monosaccharides of maltose?

  Glucose + glucose
• What is the biological role of sucrose?

  Transport in phloem of flowering plants