WJEC GCE BIOLOGY

Carbohydrates

2.6
Carbohydrates

2.6
 Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are made from CARBON,
HYDROGEN and OXYGEN
They STORE ENERGY in plants and animals

Plant cell walls depend on the structural role

of some carbohydrates

CARBOHYDRATES
WJEC GCE BIOLOGY

MONOSACCHARIDES DISACCHARIDES POLYSACCHARIDES

Carbohydrates
 Monosaccharides
Monosaccharides are small organic molecules used as bulding blocks for more
complex carbohydrates. Click each of the blue boxes to work through the slide.
What does the ‘n’
General Formula stand for?

(CH2O)n Number of Carbon atoms

TRIOSE, e.g. glyceraldehyde -

So, when n=3
In metabolic reactions

When n=5 When n=6

WJEC GCE BIOLOGY
Carbohydrates

PENTOSE, e.g. ribose – HEXOSE, e.g. glucose -

formation of nucleic acid main source of energy next
 Isomerism in Glucose C6H12O6
Alpha-glucose
CH2OH

Oxygen
Hydrogen
Carbon
Hydroxide (OH)

beta-glucose
CH2OH Show structural change
WJEC GCE BIOLOGY
Carbohydrates
 Disaccharides
Disaccharides form when two monosaccharide units join forming a
glycosidic bond, by a condensation reaction.

A disaccharide can be made The combination of

from two of the same monosaccharides determines
monosaccharide molecule or which disaccharide is formed.
from two different ones.

MONOSACCHARIDES DISACCHARIDE

GLUCOSE
GLUCOSE
WJEC GCE BIOLOGY

WATER
SUCROSE
MALTOSE
Carbohydrates

GALACTOSE
FRUCTOSE
GLUCOSE LACTOSE
 Forming Disaccharides
Glucose
CH2OH
CH2OH CH2OH

H C O H C O H
H
H H
C OH H C C OH H C
OH OH OH OH
C C C C
H OH H OH

Maltose
CH2OH CH2OH

H C O H H C O H
WJEC GCE BIOLOGY

H H
C OH H C C OH H C
O
OH
C C
OH OOH C C
OH
Carbohydrates

H H
H OH H OH
Glycosidic
Bond
This is a CONDENSATION
reaction, where a water
molecule is lost.
 Polysaccharides
Polysaccharides are large complex molecules known as
POLYMERS.
What is Click the What is a
bubble for
polymerisation ? the answer
monomer?

Polymerisation is the process of Monomers are the individual

bonding many MONOMERS by monosaccharides which join
condensation reactions to form one to form the polysaccharide.
large molecule.

Monomer Glycosidic bond

WJEC GCE BIOLOGY

Polysaccharides

STARCH α Glucose 1-4

Carbohydrates

CELLULOSE β Glucose 1-4

1-6
GLYCOGEN α Glucose
Next
Return to isomerism of glucose
 Forming polysaccharides
Glucose
CH2OH CH2OH CH2OH CH2OH

H C O H H C O H H C O H H C O H
H H H H
C OH H C C OH H C C OH H C C OH H C
OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH
C C C C
O O O
C O C O C O C
H H H H H H
H OH H OH H OH H OH

In this example, 3 condensation reactions have produced 3 water

molecules to produce the polysaccharide.
WJEC GCE BIOLOGY

A HYDROLYSIS reaction (addition of water) reverses the reaction

and splits the polysaccharide releasing 3 monosaccharide
Carbohydrates

molecules.
 You can give this
question a go, in
order to prove your
understanding:
WJEC GCE BIOLOGY
Carbohydrates