Textbook Question
Classify each of the following monosaccharides by the type of carbonyl group and the number of carbons (for example, a monosaccharide with an aldehyde and three carbons is an aldotriose).
(a)
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20. Carbohydrates
Classification of Carbohydrates
4:17 minutesProblem 83
Textbook Question
Describe the differences between mono-, di-, and polysaccharides.
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Monosaccharides are the simplest form of carbohydrates and consist of a single sugar unit. Examples include glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) and fructose. They are the building blocks for more complex carbohydrates.
Disaccharides are carbohydrates composed of two monosaccharide units joined together by a glycosidic bond. Examples include sucrose (table sugar), which is made of glucose and fructose, and lactose, which is made of glucose and galactose.
Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates made up of many monosaccharide units linked together in long chains. Examples include starch, glycogen, and cellulose. These serve as energy storage (e.g., starch in plants, glycogen in animals) or structural components (e.g., cellulose in plant cell walls).
The key difference lies in their structure: monosaccharides are single units, disaccharides are two units, and polysaccharides are long chains of units. This structural difference also affects their properties, such as solubility and digestibility.
In terms of function, monosaccharides are quick energy sources, disaccharides provide slightly more complex energy storage, and polysaccharides serve as long-term energy reserves or structural materials in organisms.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Monosaccharides
Monosaccharides are the simplest form of carbohydrates, consisting of single sugar molecules. They serve as the building blocks for more complex carbohydrates and include glucose, fructose, and galactose. These sugars are easily absorbed by the body and provide quick energy.
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Disaccharides
Disaccharides are carbohydrates formed by the combination of two monosaccharide molecules through a glycosidic bond. Common examples include sucrose (table sugar), lactose (milk sugar), and maltose. They are broken down into their monosaccharide components during digestion before being utilized for energy.
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Polysaccharides
Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates composed of long chains of monosaccharide units linked together. They serve various functions, such as energy storage (e.g., starch in plants and glycogen in animals) and structural support (e.g., cellulose in plant cell walls). Due to their complexity, they are digested more slowly than monosaccharides and disaccharides.
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