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Carbohydrates Overview

This section provides an introduction to carbohydrates, their classification, and their significance as a source of energy for living organisms.

Carbohydrate Classification

• Carbohydrates are also known as sugars or saccharides, composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

• Main sources include fruits, cereals, legumes, pasta, bread, rice, potatoes, and corn.

• They serve as the primary chemical energy source for metabolism in living beings.

Types of Carbohydrates

• Monosaccharides consist of single sugar molecules with 3 to 10 carbons.

• Examples include ribose and deoxyribose (5 carbons) found in nucleic acids.

• Glucose, fructose, and galactose (6 carbons) are essential monosaccharides.

• Disaccharides result from the union of two monosaccharides through glycosidic bonds.

• Common examples are sucrose (glucose + fructose) and lactose (glucose + galactose).

Polysaccharides Characteristics

• Polysaccharides are formed by numerous simple sugars like glucose either linearly or branched.

• Important polysaccharides include glycogen, cellulose, starch, chitin, and mucopolysaccharides.

• They are termed complex sugars due to properties like lack of sweetness and insolubility in water.

Functions of Carbohydrates

• Key roles:

• Primary source of chemical energy for living organisms.

• Glucose and fructose serve as vital monosaccharide fuels.

• Storage forms like starch in plants and glycogen in animals store energy.

• Structural support provided by cellulose in plant cell walls.

Additional Functions

• Cellulose supports plant structures while chitin is part of arthropod exoskeletons.