Topic 1 Molecules, Transport

and Health
Chapter 1A
Carbohydrates I: Monosaccharides and
Disaccharides

▷ Carbohydrates
▷ Organic Compounds
▷ Monosaccharides
▷ Disaccharides
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Carbohydrates
▷ Carbohydrates are sugar molecules
▷ One of the 3 main nutrients found in food and drinks
▷ Carbohydrates are organic molecules

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 Organic Compounds
▷ The majority of biological molecules are organic compounds

▷ Organic compounds all contain carbon atoms within their molecules

• Organic chemistry is the study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and
preparation of carbon-containing compounds

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 Organic Compounds

▷ Each carbon atom can make four bonds and connect with
four other atoms

▷ Carbon can bond with other carbon atoms to make long

chains Octane is a hydrocarbon and an alkane
with the chemical formula C8H18

▷ Some carbon molecules can be small molecules

(monomers) and bond with larger molecules called a polymer
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 Carbohydrates
▷ Carbohydrates act as a source and storage of energy within cells

• Sugars within carbohydrates help with many of the biological processes

within the body.

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 Carbohydrates

▷ They also have a

structural role in a cell

▷ Production of structural
compounds eg. cellulose

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 Carbohydrates

▷ Carbohydrates only contain 3 elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygen

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 Carbohydrates
▷ They are the among the most abundant organic compounds on Earth
▷ Are classed in order of size: monosaccharides, disaccharides and
polysaccharides

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 Simple Carbohydrates

▷ Broken down quickly by the body to be used

as energy.

▷ Found naturally in foods such as fruits, milk,

and milk products. They are also found in
processed and refined sugars such as
candy, table sugar, syrups, and soft drinks

▷ Classified as monosaccharides and

disaccharides
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 Monosaccharides
▷ Simplest of all carbohydrates and are the monomer building blocks for
complex carbohydrates
▷ Two monosaccharides (monomers) can join together to create a disaccharide

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 Monosaccharides
▷ Are soluble and sweet tasting carbohydrates so are also known as sugars
▷ Monosaccharides all have the general formula:

(CH2O)n
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 Number of carbon atoms

▷ General formula CH2O

Lactic Acid
• Triose sugars: n=3 C3H6O3

• Pentose sugars: n=5 C5H10O5

• Hexose sugars: n=6 C6H12O6

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Using the general formula (CH2O)n identify the molecular formula for the following examples.

C3H6O3
Triose

Tetrose C4H8O4

Pentose C5H10O5

C6H12O6
Hexose

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Hexose Monosaccharides
▷ Three commonly found hexose monosaccharides are:

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Glucose
▷ Glucose is a hexose sugar with the molecular formula C6H12O6
▷ Glucose is an important sugar that is mentioned in many aspects of biology.

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Glucose
▷ It is the main source of energy in respiration.

▷ It is used as building blocks for larger

carbohydrates (polysaccharides)

▷ Small, soluble and easily transported in out of

cells

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 Isomers
▷ Isomers have same chemical formula but different structural conformation
▷ This results in slightly different chemical behaviour

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 Structural Isomerism

▷ There are 2 isomers of glucose:

α-glucose and β-glucose
▷ Differ by the position of the
hydroxyl group.
▷ α = OH same side
▷ β = ΟΗ different side

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 Glucose Isomers
▷ Different polysaccharides are formed depending on whether α-glucose and
β-glucose is used as a building block

Amylose: α-glucose

Cellulose: β-glucose

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 Ribose
▷ Ribose is a five-carbon atom
molecule with a molecular formula
C5H10O5.
▷ Ribose is found in many biological
molecules including ribonucleic acid
and ATP.

RNA ATP 21
 Disaccharides

▷ Disaccharides are formed by joining two monosaccharides together in a

condensation reaction

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 Disaccharides

▷ Disaccharides are sweet tasting

and soluble carbohydrates

▷ Different combinations of
monosaccharides

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 Maltose
▷ Maltose can be found in germinating seeds as more
complex carbohydrates and can be broken down to
energy

▷ Maltose is formed through the condensation reaction of

two α-glucose molecules.

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 Sucrose
▷ Sucrose is formed from the condensation reaction of
α-glucose and fructose

▷ Sucrose is transported through the phloem to

provide sugars to other parts of the plants

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 Lactose
▷ Lactose is formed from the condensation reaction of α-glucose and galactose

▷ Lactose is found in mammalian milk to provide energy for infant mammals

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Disaccharides

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 Disaccharides

Glucose + Glucose = Maltose

Go Grand Ma!

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 Disaccharides

Glucose + Fructose = Sucrose

Go Father Son

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 Disaccharides

Glucose + Galactose = Lactose

Go Good Luck

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 Disaccharides
▷ Composed of two monosaccharides joined by a glycosidic bond

▷ During the formation of a glycosidic bond a water molecule is removed

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 Glycosidic Bond
▷ A glycosidic bond is a covalent bond formed between two monosaccharides

▷ Glycosidic bonds are named depending on which carbon atom they are
formed between

1,4 glycosidic bond

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 Glycosidic Bond
▷ Disaccharides are broken down through a hydrolysis reaction to form two
monosaccharides

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 Reducing sugars
▷ Reducing sugars that can give away electrons to reduce other molecules
○ All monosaccharides are reducing sugars
○ Some disaccharides are reducing sugars

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 Reducing sugars
▷ Reducing sugars have a free ketone or aldehyde

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 Reducing vs Non-Reducing Sugars
Reducing sugars: Can donate an electron to another molecule.
• All monosaccharides are reducing sugars
• Some disaccharides are reducing sugars

Reducing sugars will add an electron to the Cu2+ in the Benedict's solution and reduce it to Cu+
to form a red precipitate.

Non-Reducing sugars: Cannot donate an electron to another molecule.

• Sucrose is an example of a disaccharide that is a non-reducing sugar.
• To test for sucrose, we need to break the glycosidic bond to its monosaccharides and then
test it.
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 Benedict’s Test
1. Take 2ml of 1% solution of monosaccharide into a test
tube. Add an equal amount of Benedict’s reagent and mix
thoroughly.
2. Then the mixture becomes blue in color.
3. Boil the solution slowly using a hot water bath.
4. Shake the test tube continuously while boiling.

Observation: While boiling, the initial blue color gradually turns

to green, then into yellowish green and finally brick red
precipitations
Conclusion: The used monosaccharide is a reducing agent

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Reagent Test Stripes
▷ This test can used to detect reducing sugars in
urine samples that can indicate a sign of
diabetes in patients

▷ Matching the test strip with the color chart

solution can inform you on the levels reducing
sugar concentration

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