Carbohydrates: Structure and Classification
Carbohydrates come in three main sizes, and they're like building blocks that can be single units or massive chains. Monosaccharides are the simplest form - think of them as individual LEGO bricks that can't be broken down further.
Glucose is your go-to example of a monosaccharide, and it's actually a hexose sugar because it contains six carbon atoms. Here's where it gets interesting: glucose has two different forms called alpha glucose and beta glucose - they have the same molecular formula (C₆H₁₂O₆) but the hydroxyl groups are arranged differently.
Disaccharides form when two monosaccharides join together through a condensation reaction, creating a glycosidic bond. The most common example is maltose, which forms when two glucose molecules link via a 1,4 glycosidic bond between their carbon atoms.
Quick Tip: Remember the three key disaccharides: glucose + glucose = maltose, glucose + fructose = sucrose, and glucose + galactose = lactose!
Polysaccharides are the giants of the carbohydrate world - imagine thousands of monosaccharides chained together. Examples include starch (energy storage in plants) and cellulose (structural support in plant cell walls). These massive molecules play vital roles in both energy storage and structural support in living organisms.