Carbohydrates

  • Consists of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
  • Monosaccharides are the simple sugars and are the monomers of more complex carbohydrates. E.g. glucose.
  • Disaccharides arises when two monosaccharides join together E.g. sucrose = fructose + glucose.
  • Polysaccharides are the polymers made up of many monosaccharides. E.g. cellulose – made up of many glucose molecules.
  • Glycosidic linkages is what holds the monosaccharides together in disaccharides and polysaccharides.
  • Reaction that occurs between the monosaccharides to form glycosidic linkages = condensation reaction.

Main roles of carbohydrates:

  • Energy – glucose
  • Storage of energy – glycogen and starch
  • Structural components – cellulose
maltose