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Questions and Answers
What is the chemical definition of carbohydrates?
What is the chemical definition of carbohydrates?
What is the primary source of energy for carbohydrates in plants?
What is the primary source of energy for carbohydrates in plants?
Which of the following is a function of carbohydrates?
Which of the following is a function of carbohydrates?
What is the role of non-digestible carbohydrates like cellulose?
What is the role of non-digestible carbohydrates like cellulose?
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What is the name of the sugar molecule found in RNA and DNA?
What is the name of the sugar molecule found in RNA and DNA?
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What is another role of carbohydrates besides energy production?
What is another role of carbohydrates besides energy production?
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Study Notes
Definition and Composition of Carbohydrates
- Carbohydrates are chemically defined as aldehyde or ketone derivatives of polyhydroxy alcohols or compounds that yield these derivatives on hydrolysis.
- Composed of the elements carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O).
- Also known as saccharides, meaning "sugars".
Production and Functions of Carbohydrates
- Produced by photosynthesis in plants, where glucose is synthesized from CO2, H2O, and energy from the sun.
- Oxidized in living cells (respiration) to produce CO2, H2O, and energy.
- Functions:
- Source of energy for living beings (e.g., glucose).
- Storage form of energy (e.g., glycogen in animal tissue and starch in plants).
- Serve as structural components (e.g., glycosaminoglycans in humans, cellulose in plants, and chitin in insects).
- Non-digestible carbohydrates like cellulose serve as dietary fibers.
- Constituents of nucleic acids RNA and DNA (e.g., ribose and deoxyribose sugar).
- Play roles in lubrication, cellular intercommunication, and immunity.
- Involved in detoxification (e.g., glucuronic acid).
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Description
Learn about the chemical definition, sources, and properties of carbohydrates, including their role in energy production and composition
