Carbohydrates Overview

Monosaccharides

• Simple sugars like glucose and ribose.
• Serve as the primary energy source for cells.

Disaccharides

• Formed by the combination of two monosaccharides.
• Examples include lactose (milk sugar), sucrose (table sugar), and maltose (malt sugar).

Polysaccharides

• Large molecules composed of long chains of monosaccharide units.
• Key examples:
  • Starch: energy storage in plants.
  • Glycogen: energy storage in animals.
  • Cellulose: structural component in plant cell walls.
  • Chitin: structural component in fungi and the exoskeleton of insects.

Carbohydrates Ratio

• Composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a specific ratio of 1:2:1.

Monomer and Polymer

• Monomer of carbohydrates: monosaccharides.
• Polymer of carbohydrates: polysaccharides.

Formation of Carbohydrates

• Synthesized via condensation reactions, where water is removed to form bonds between monosaccharides.

Utilization of Carbohydrates

• Simple carbohydrates (monosaccharides and disaccharides) are primarily used for quick energy.
• Complex carbohydrates (polysaccharides) serve structural purposes or energy storage.

Specific Uses of Complex Carbohydrates

• Starch: stores energy in plants.
• Glycogen: stores energy in animals; highly branched structure for rapid mobilization.
• Cellulose: provides rigidity and structural support in plant cell walls.
• Chitin: offers structural support in fungal cell walls and insect exoskeletons.

Digestibility of Carbohydrates

• Humans can break down starch but are unable to digest cellulose, which acts as fiber in the diet.

Explore the fascinating world of carbohydrates, including monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides. Understand their structure, function, and the biochemical processes involved in their formation and utilization. This quiz will test your knowledge of these essential biomolecules.