Basics of Carbohydrates

Questions and Answers

What are carbohydrates?

Any of a large group of organic compounds occurring in foods and living tissues, including sugars, starch, and cellulose. They can be broken down to release energy in the human body.

What foods are carbohydrates made out of?

Fruits, vegetables, and breads.

What are carbohydrates made from?

Carbohydrates are molecules made from carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

Why do living things need carbohydrates?

Living things use carbohydrates as their main source of energy. Signup and view all the answers

What are monosaccharides?

Single sugar molecules besides glucose. Signup and view all the answers

What are disaccharides?

Simple carbohydrates consisting of two chemically-linked monosaccharides. Signup and view all the answers

What can carbohydrates do for plants?

Plants use carbohydrates for structural purposes. Signup and view all the answers

What does glycogen do?

Glycogen is stored in your muscles and supplies the energy for muscle contraction and movement. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Definition of Carbohydrates

Organic compounds found in foods and living tissues, including sugars, starch, and cellulose.
Composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 2:1 ratio, similar to water.
Play a vital role in energy release within the human body.

Sources of Carbohydrates

Common foods rich in carbohydrates include fruits, vegetables, and breads.

Composition of Carbohydrates

Formed from three elements: carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
Monosaccharides (single sugars) and disaccharides (two chemically linked sugars) are the basic structures, often referred to as sugars.

Importance of Carbohydrates for Living Things

Serve as the primary energy source for living organisms.
Provide structural functions in plants and some animals.

Monosaccharides

Single sugar units, the simplest form of carbohydrates.
Examples include glucose, galactose (found in milk), and fructose (found in many fruits).

Disaccharides

Composed of two monosaccharides linked together.
Common types include lactose (found in milk), maltose (found in malted foods), and sucrose (table sugar).

Structural Role in Plants

Carbohydrates contribute to structural integrity and functions in plants and some animals.

Glycogen

A polysaccharide stored in muscles that serves as an energy reserve for muscle contraction and movement.

Description

Explore the essential concepts of carbohydrates, including their definitions, compositions, sources, and their importance in living organisms. Understand the differences between monosaccharides and disaccharides, as well as the role carbohydrates play in energy release.