Learn: Carbohydrates - Structure, Roles and Tests

Welcome!Building on your understanding of monomers, polymers, condensation and hydrolysis, we're now going to dive into carbohydrates. You'll learn about their structure, roles, and how to test for them in the lab.

What are carbohydrates?Carbohydrates are organic molecules made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. They are essential for energy storage, structural support, and cell recognition processes in organisms.

Types of carbohydratesCarbohydrates can be classified into monosaccharides (single sugar units), disaccharides (two sugar units joined by glycosidic bonds), and polysaccharides (long chains of sugar units).

MonosaccharidesMonosaccharides (like glucose) are the simplest carbohydrates. They serve as the building blocks for larger carbohydrates and are easily absorbed for energy.

Polysaccharides: Structure and FunctionsPolysaccharides are long chains of monosaccharides joined by glycosidic bonds. Examples include starch, which stores energy in plants, and glycogen, which stores energy in animals.

Testing for carbohydratesTo identify carbohydrates, specific chemical tests are used:Benedict's test for reducing sugars.Non-reducing sugar test (acid hydrolysis followed by Benedict's).Iodine test for starch.

Review Time!Great work! You've learned about the structure of carbohydrates, their roles, and the tests used to identify them. Let's test your understanding further.

Final SummaryCarbohydrates are vital for energy storage and structural functions. They can be detected using Benedict's, iodine, and non-reducing sugar tests. Well done on completing this lesson!