Carbs - Simple sugars

• Carbohydrates are made up of simple sugars
• Carbohydrate molecules contain the elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
• The smallest units ( monomers ) are simple sugars, e.g. glucose or fructose molecules
• Monomers can be joined together in long chains ( polymers ) to make large, complex carbohydrates e.g. starch and glycogen
• Polymer molecules can be broken down back into sugars again when the chemical bonds between the monomers are broken
• In the body, carbohydrates are broken down ( digested ) by enzymes in the mouth and small intestine