Carbohydrates
What is a Carbohydrate?
A Carbohydrate is an organic compound that is made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. Each monomer is glucose. A Carbohydrate is one type of a macromolecule. Carbohydrates are usually described as monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides. Monosaccharides and disaccharides are less complex and are usually refered to as sugars. Glucose and Sucrose are examples. Polysaccharides are more complex and are better for storing energy. Examples of polysaccharides are starch and glycogen. The process by which a complex carbohydrate is broken up is hydrolysis. Hydrolisis is where water is used to break a bond and produce energy. The process by which a simple carbohydrate is bonded together is dehydration. Dehydration takes out water to build bonds and store energy.
This the monosaccharide glucose. Glucose has 6 carbons, 12 hydrogens, and 6 oxygens. Glucose is a simple sugar
This is the polysaccharide starch. Starch is made up of multiple monomers called glucose. This is a complex carbohydrate and is good for long term energy use.