Monosaccharides

• What is a monosaccharide?

  A molecule consisting of a single sugar unit.
• What is a reducing sugar?


  A sugar that can donate electrons to another chemical.
• What are all monosaccharides?

  Reducing sugars.
• What do we use to test for non-reducing sugars and why?

  Benedict's reagent, as the sugar will reduce the soluble copper sulfate to insoluble brick-red copper.
• What are monomers?


  Small units which can create larger molecules.
• What are polymers?


  Lots of monomers bonded together.
• What elements do carbohydrates contain?

  Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
• What are the three main monosaccharides?

  Glucose, galactose and fructose.
• What are the three main disaccharides?

  Maltose, lactose and sucrose.
• What are the three main polysaccharides?

  Starch, glycogen and cellulose.
• What are the two isomers of glucose?

  Alpha and beta glucose.
• What are structural isomers?


  Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural formula.
• What is the difference between alpha and beta glucose?


  The hydrogen is at the top of carbon one in alpha glucose but at the bottom in beta glucose.
• What are disaccharides?


  Two monosaccharides bonded together by a glycosidic bond.
• What are monosaccharides?


  Simple sugar molecules.
• What bond are disaccharides and polysaccharides joined by?

  1-4 glycosidic bonds.
• Why does a 1-4 glycosidic bond have a 1-4 on it?

  It shows the where the bonds are on the carbon atoms.
• What reaction do disaccharides and polysaccharides join by?

  A condensation reaction.
• What is a condensation reaction?


  The joining of two molecules by the removal of water.
• What is a hydrolysis reaction?


  The splitting apart of molecules through the addition of water.
• What is produced when two monosaccharides join to form a disaccharide?

  Water.
• What does glucose + glucose produce?

  Maltose + water.
• What does glucose + galactose produce?

  Lactose + water.
• What does glucose + fructose produce?

  Sucrose + water.