Carbohydrates - General Concepts

What are biomolecules?

Which of the following are examples of biomolecules?

Biomolecules can be both small molecules and macromolecules.

Biomolecules are composed primarily of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus.

What are the most abundant organic molecules in nature?

Carbohydrates are simply defined as poly-hydroxy aldehydes or ketones and their derivatives.

What is the empirical formula of carbohydrates?

The hydrogen and oxygen atoms in carbohydrates are always present in the proportion of two hydrogen atoms to one oxygen atom, as in water.

All substances containing hydrogen and oxygen in a 2:1 ratio are carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates are actually or potentially convertible to hydroxyl aldehydes or ketones.

In most cases, carbohydrates are poly-hydroxy aldehydes or ketones.

Carbohydrates - General Idea

Biomolecules are molecules naturally found in living organisms.
All life forms consist entirely of biomolecules.
Biomolecules are organic molecules, including macromolecules like carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.
Biomolecules also include smaller molecules like metabolites and natural products.
Biomolecules primarily contain carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and phosphorus.
These atoms are covalently bonded.

Carbohydrate - General Idea

Carbohydrates are the most prevalent organic molecules in nature.
They're defined as polyhydroxy aldehydes or ketones, or their derivatives.
Many have the empirical formula (CH₂O)ₙ.
The formula (CH₂O)ₙ, once suggested that carbohydrates were hydrates of carbon.
Typically, the hydrogen-to-oxygen ratio in carbohydrates reflects the ratio in water (2:1).
Not all substances with a hydrogen-to-oxygen ratio of 2:1 are carbohydrates (e.g., acetic and lactic acid).
Some carbohydrates, like Rhamnose, don't have the 2:1 ratio.
Carbohydrates are essentially or potentially aldehydes or ketones with multiple hydroxyl groups.

Ring Structure of Sugars

This is covered in slide 3, which contains images of sugar structures.

Explore the fundamental concepts of carbohydrates as essential biomolecules. This quiz covers their definitions, chemical structure, and significance in nature. Test your knowledge about the properties and classifications of carbohydrates.