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Carbohydrates
Revision Notes
Key Points
- Carbohydrates are the most abundant biological molecules and serve as the primary source of energy for living organisms.
- Carbohydrates can be classified into monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides based on their complexity.
- Monosaccharides are the simplest form of carbohydrates and include glucose, fructose, and galactose.
- Disaccharides are formed by the condensation of two monosaccharides and include sucrose, lactose, and maltose.
- Polysaccharides are large, complex carbohydrates formed by the condensation of many monosaccharides and include starch, glycogen, and cellulose.
Definition and Structure
Carbohydrates are organic compounds consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. They are the most abundant biological molecules and serve as the primary source of energy for living organisms.
Carbohydrates can be classified into three main categories based on their complexity: monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides.
Monosaccharides
- Monosaccharides are the simplest form of carbohydrates and cannot be broken down further by hydrolysis.
- Examples of monosaccharides include **glucose**, **fructose**, and **galactose**.
Disaccharides
- Disaccharides are formed by the condensation of two monosaccharides.
- Examples of disaccharides include **sucrose**, **lactose**, and **maltose**.
Polysaccharides
- Polysaccharides are large, complex carbohydrates formed by the condensation of many monosaccharides.
- Examples of polysaccharides include **starch**, **glycogen**, and **cellulose**.