Mr. Bliss Salem High School Biology Carbohydrates Mr. Bliss Salem High School Biology
Characteristics of Carbohydrates Made of carbon, hydrogen, & oxygen Energy containing molecules Some provide structure Cellulose Starch Basic building block is a monosaccharide (CH2O) 1:2:1 ratio
Different Forms of Glucose
Three Monosaccharides C6H12O6
Making and Breaking Polymers -Stringing monosaccharides together makes a Carbohydrate polymer called a polysaccharide Dehydration Synthesis - a process where monomers join together to make (synthesize) a polymer. Water is lost as a result (dehydration) Hydrolysis – The opposite of dehydration synthesis. A process where water (hydro-) is used to split (-lyse) a big polymer into smaller monomers.
Dehydration Synthesis of a Disaccharide
Formation of Disaccharides
Hydrolysis of a Disaccharide
Important Polysaccharides: Starch Consists of glucose subunits Plant energy storage molecule Glycogen is a very similar molecule in animals. Starch and glycogen are easily digested by humans.
Important Polysaccharides: Cellulose Made of glucose Structural component in plants Most abundant organic compound on Earth! Cannot be digested by humans
Cellulose Typically, animals that consume cellulose have much longer intestinal tracts than those that do not. Scientists believe the human appendix is a remnant from when we ate more cellulose.
Important Polysaccharides: Chitin Glucose subunits Partly derived from non-sugars (nitrogen) Exoskeletons of insects/crustaceans Note similarity to cellulose.