Biochemistry Unit-I: Carbohydrates Classification and Role

What is the empirical formula of carbohydrates?

Which of the following is NOT a biological role of carbohydrates?

Which of the following is a source of carbohydrates?

What type of organic compounds do carbohydrates act as precursors for?

Which type of monosaccharide would have a ketone group at any position?

What is the name of the trisaccharide found in many plants, consisting of galactose, glucose, and fructose?

How is a disaccharide formed?

Which type of carbohydrate consists of from two to ten monosaccharide molecules?

Which type of interconversion involves exchanging a hydrogen atom between two other atoms?

Which compound is referred to as 'animal starch' due to its high concentration in liver, muscle, and brain?

Which polysaccharide consists of water-soluble amylose and water-insoluble amylopectin?

Which process involves the hydrolysis of disaccharides to yield their free monosaccharide components by boiling with dilute acid?

Carbohydrate Basics

The empirical formula for carbohydrates is generally represented as ( C_n(H_2O)_n ).
Carbohydrates play various biological roles including energy storage, structural components, and cell recognition, but they do not function as genetic materials.

Sources and Types of Carbohydrates

Common sources of carbohydrates include grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Carbohydrates serve as precursors for organic compounds like nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins.

Monosaccharides and Specific Types

Ketoses are types of monosaccharides that contain a ketone group; they can have the ketone group at any position.
A notable trisaccharide found in many plants comprises galactose, glucose, and fructose, known as raffinose.

Formation and Classification

Disaccharides are formed through a condensation reaction, where two monosaccharides link together with the elimination of a water molecule.
Oligosaccharides contain two to ten monosaccharide units.

Chemical Interactions and Compounds

The type of interconversion that involves the exchange of a hydrogen atom between two other atoms is called hydrogen shift or tautomerization.
Glycogen, commonly referred to as 'animal starch', accumulates in significant amounts in the liver, muscle, and brain.

Polysaccharide Composition

Starch is a polysaccharide made of two components: water-soluble amylose and water-insoluble amylopectin.
The hydrolysis of disaccharides into monosaccharides occurs through boiling with dilute acid, a process known as acid hydrolysis.

Test your understanding of the chemical nature, classification, and biological role of carbohydrates with this quiz. Explore the most abundant biomolecules on Earth and their composition of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms.