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C
codie
08/12/2025
Biology
Aqa biology carbohydrates
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•
8 Dec 2025
•
Comprehensive AQA Biology Notes on Carbohydrates
C
codie
@codie_xht
1 / 6
Carbohydrate Basics
Think of carbohydrates like biological Lego blocks - they start simple and build into complex structures. Monosaccharides are the individual building blocks (monomers), and when you stick two together with a glycosidic bond, you get a disaccharide.
The two most important monosaccharides you need to memorise are α-glucose and β-glucose. Here's the trick to remember them: in α-glucose, the hydrogen on carbon 1 points up , whilst in β-glucose, it points down (the H has "fallen").
When three or more monosaccharides join together, they form polysaccharides - these are the complex carbohydrates like starch and cellulose that you'll see everywhere in biology.
Key Tip: Draw both glucose structures from memory until you can do it with your eyes closed - this will save you marks in exams!
Forming Disaccharides
Creating a disaccharide is like molecular matchmaking - two glucose molecules join through a condensation reaction. The magic happens between carbon 1 of one glucose and carbon 4 of another, forming a glycosidic bond.
During this process, a water molecule (H₂O) gets kicked out - that's why it's called condensation. Think of it like squeezing water out of a sponge when you press two pieces together.
This reaction works both ways! Add water back in (hydrolysis), and you'll break the bond, splitting the disaccharide back into two monosaccharides. Remember: "hydro" = water, "lysis" = breakdown.
Memory Trick: Condensation removes water (like condensation on windows), hydrolysis adds water back!
Common Carbohydrate Combinations
You'll need to know the key players in the carbohydrate world. The main monosaccharides are glucose, fructose, and galactose - these are your basic building blocks.
For disaccharides, think of them as specific partnerships: glucose + glucose makes maltose (found in beer!), glucose + fructose creates sucrose (table sugar), and glucose + galactose forms lactose (milk sugar).
Polysaccharides follow a simple rule: glycogen and starch are both made from α-glucose, whilst cellulose is built from β-glucose. This tiny difference in glucose type completely changes their properties and functions.
Exam Essential: Learn these combinations - they're guaranteed to appear in multiple choice questions!
Glycogen Structure and Function
Glycogen is your body's energy storage system - think of it as biological battery packs in your muscles and liver. It's formed through condensation reactions between α-glucose molecules, creating both 1,4 glycosidic bonds (straight chains) and 1,6 glycosidic bonds (branches).
The branched structure is absolutely brilliant for quick energy release. Multiple enzymes can attack different branch points simultaneously, like having several checkout counters open instead of just one.
Glycogen is also perfectly designed for storage - it's compact (fits loads of energy in small spaces), insoluble (won't mess with your cell's water balance), and can't diffuse out of cells accidentally.
Real-World Connection: This is why athletes "carb-load" before big events - they're maximising their glycogen stores!
Starch in Plants
Starch is basically the plant version of glycogen - their way of storing energy for later use. It's actually a mixture of two different polysaccharides: amylose and amylopectin.
Amylose is the simple version - an unbranched chain of glucose with just 1,4 glycosidic bonds. It coils up like a spring, making it incredibly compact for energy storage.
Amylopectin is more like glycogen, with both 1,4 and 1,6 glycosidic bonds creating branches. This allows enzymes to work on multiple points simultaneously for faster energy release when the plant needs it.
Plant Power: Starch being insoluble means plants can store massive amounts of energy without affecting their cell water potential!
Cellulose and Cell Walls
Cellulose is the tough guy of the carbohydrate family - it's what gives plant cell walls their incredible strength. Made from long, unbranched chains of β-glucose, these chains bundle together to form microfibrils.
The clever bit is how these microfibrils arrange themselves. Instead of all running parallel (which would create weak points), they form cross-linkages at different angles, like a biological mesh.
This cross-linked structure is essential because cell walls need to withstand enormous pressure from inside the cell. If there were weak points, the cell would literally burst open under pressure.
Engineering Marvel: Cellulose is stronger than steel by weight - no wonder it's used to build tree trunks!
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Anna
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Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
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Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Comprehensive AQA Biology Notes on Carbohydrates
C
codie
@codie_xht
Carbohydrates are absolutely everywhere in biology - from the sugar in your tea to the cellulose in plant cell walls. Understanding how these biological molecules work is crucial for your A-levels, and once you get the basic patterns, it all... Show more
Carbohydrate Basics
Think of carbohydrates like biological Lego blocks - they start simple and build into complex structures. Monosaccharides are the individual building blocks (monomers), and when you stick two together with a glycosidic bond, you get a disaccharide.
The two most important monosaccharides you need to memorise are α-glucose and β-glucose. Here's the trick to remember them: in α-glucose, the hydrogen on carbon 1 points up , whilst in β-glucose, it points down (the H has "fallen").
When three or more monosaccharides join together, they form polysaccharides - these are the complex carbohydrates like starch and cellulose that you'll see everywhere in biology.
Key Tip: Draw both glucose structures from memory until you can do it with your eyes closed - this will save you marks in exams!
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Forming Disaccharides
Creating a disaccharide is like molecular matchmaking - two glucose molecules join through a condensation reaction. The magic happens between carbon 1 of one glucose and carbon 4 of another, forming a glycosidic bond.
During this process, a water molecule (H₂O) gets kicked out - that's why it's called condensation. Think of it like squeezing water out of a sponge when you press two pieces together.
This reaction works both ways! Add water back in (hydrolysis), and you'll break the bond, splitting the disaccharide back into two monosaccharides. Remember: "hydro" = water, "lysis" = breakdown.
Memory Trick: Condensation removes water (like condensation on windows), hydrolysis adds water back!
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Common Carbohydrate Combinations
You'll need to know the key players in the carbohydrate world. The main monosaccharides are glucose, fructose, and galactose - these are your basic building blocks.
For disaccharides, think of them as specific partnerships: glucose + glucose makes maltose (found in beer!), glucose + fructose creates sucrose (table sugar), and glucose + galactose forms lactose (milk sugar).
Polysaccharides follow a simple rule: glycogen and starch are both made from α-glucose, whilst cellulose is built from β-glucose. This tiny difference in glucose type completely changes their properties and functions.
Exam Essential: Learn these combinations - they're guaranteed to appear in multiple choice questions!
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Glycogen Structure and Function
Glycogen is your body's energy storage system - think of it as biological battery packs in your muscles and liver. It's formed through condensation reactions between α-glucose molecules, creating both 1,4 glycosidic bonds (straight chains) and 1,6 glycosidic bonds (branches).
The branched structure is absolutely brilliant for quick energy release. Multiple enzymes can attack different branch points simultaneously, like having several checkout counters open instead of just one.
Glycogen is also perfectly designed for storage - it's compact (fits loads of energy in small spaces), insoluble (won't mess with your cell's water balance), and can't diffuse out of cells accidentally.
Real-World Connection: This is why athletes "carb-load" before big events - they're maximising their glycogen stores!
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Starch in Plants
Starch is basically the plant version of glycogen - their way of storing energy for later use. It's actually a mixture of two different polysaccharides: amylose and amylopectin.
Amylose is the simple version - an unbranched chain of glucose with just 1,4 glycosidic bonds. It coils up like a spring, making it incredibly compact for energy storage.
Amylopectin is more like glycogen, with both 1,4 and 1,6 glycosidic bonds creating branches. This allows enzymes to work on multiple points simultaneously for faster energy release when the plant needs it.
Plant Power: Starch being insoluble means plants can store massive amounts of energy without affecting their cell water potential!
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Cellulose and Cell Walls
Cellulose is the tough guy of the carbohydrate family - it's what gives plant cell walls their incredible strength. Made from long, unbranched chains of β-glucose, these chains bundle together to form microfibrils.
The clever bit is how these microfibrils arrange themselves. Instead of all running parallel (which would create weak points), they form cross-linkages at different angles, like a biological mesh.
This cross-linked structure is essential because cell walls need to withstand enormous pressure from inside the cell. If there were weak points, the cell would literally burst open under pressure.
Engineering Marvel: Cellulose is stronger than steel by weight - no wonder it's used to build tree trunks!
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user