CARBOHYDRATES
- Carbohydrate = hydrate of carbon.
- Hydroxyl group present.
- Aldehyde group or keto group may present.
- Carbohydrates are polyhydroxy aldehydes or ketose.
- Aldehyde group (-CHO) is generally terminal while keto group (> C = O) is commonly subterminal.
- Depending upon the presence of aldehyde or keto group, carbohydrates are called aldoses are ketoses.
- Carbohydrates contain Hydrogen and Oxygen in proportion as present in water.
- There are few exceptions -
Acetic acid (C2H4O2), Formeldehyde (CH2O), Lactic acid (C3H6O3) [Not Carbohydrate]
Deoxyribose sugar (C5H10O4), Ranose (C6H12O5), Glucosamine (C6H13ON) [Carbohydrate]
- Empirical formula is Cn(H2O)n or (CH2O)n.
- Generally 3 elements present in carbohydrate as C, H & O.
- Some carbohydrates contain Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Sulphur.
- Carbohydrates are also named saccharides as they are formed of sugars.
- Carbohydrates that are water soluble & sweet in taste are called sugars.
- a & b - forms of sugar show isomerism.
- The term sugar is used for small carbohydrates (monosaccharides and disaccharides) that are sweet to taste.
- Carbohydrates are the first products of photosynthesis and the main ingredient of reserve food.
- They are also called Staff of life.
- Upto 80% of the dry weight of a plant is made of carbohydrates.
- However, in an animal, the carbohydrate content is not more than 1% of the total.
- Carbohydrates are of three types - Monosaccharides, Oligosaccharides, Polysaccharides