What is Carbohydrates

                   Carbohydrates are the most abundant organic molecule in the nature. The general molecular formula of carbohydrates (CH2O)n. They contain small subunits called monomers,

            The carbohydrates are generally made up of Carbon(C), Hydrogen(H), Oxygen(O). The carbohydrates may be defined as Polyhydroxy aldehydes. The carbohydrates literally mean hydrates of carbon.

            The Carbohydrates are generally called as sugar. Monosaccharides are simple sugar that are composed of 3-7 carbon atoms.

            The Carbohydrates are soluble in water (or) isotones. They are sweet in taste. They are reducing sugar.

Examples: Glucose, Fructose, Sucrose, Maltose, Starch etc.,

Functions of Carbohydrates:

·        Carbohydrates are Most abundant dietary source of energy.

·        They are precursor for organic sources such as fats amino acids.

·        Carbohydrates are glycoproteins glycolipids participate in the structure of cell membrane cellular functions.

·        They are structural components of many organic such as cell growth, cell adhesion etc.,

·        They form structural and protective components, like in cell wall of plant and microorganisms.

·        They are rich in fiber content and help to prevent constipation.

·        Glucose is the source of storage of energy. It is stored as glycogen and starch in plants.

·        They participate in biological transport, cell-cell communication and activation of growth factors.

·        Carbohydrates aid in regulation of nerve tissue and are the energy source for him.

·        Carbohydrates get associated with lipids and proteins to form surface antigens, receptor molecules, vitamins and antibiotics.

·        Carbohydrates are intermediates in biosynthesis of fat and proteins. 

Classification of Carbohydrates:

         The Carbohydrates are generally classified into four types they are:

  ·        Monosaccharide

  ·       Disaccharides

  ·      Polysaccharides

  ·      Oligosaccharides 

Properties of Carbohydrates:

General Properties:

     ·        Ribose and Deoxyribose sugar structural frame of the genetic material.

          ·        Polysaccharides like cellulose are the structural elements in the cell walls of bacteria and plants.  

          ·        Carbohydrates are linked to protein and lipid that play important role in cell interaction.

          ·        They are aldehydes or ketones with many hydroxyl groups.

 Physical Properties:

Optical Activity- It is the rotation of plane polarized light forming (+) glucose and (-) glucose.

Diastereo Isomers- It the configurational changes with regard C2, C4, or C4 in glucose. Ex: Galactose

Annomerism – It is the spatial configuration with respect to the first carbon atom in aldoses and second carbon atom in ketoses.

Stereoisomerism – Compound shaving same structural formula but they differ in spatial arrangements.

Example: Glucose has two isomers with respect to penultimate carbon atom. They are D-glucose and L-glucose.

Chemical Properties: 

           ·        Ozazone formation with Phenylhydrazine

·        Benedicts test

·        Oxidation

·        Reduction to alcohols 

Structure of Carbohydrates:

             There are three types of structural representation of carbohydrates:

·                            ·        Open chain structure

                ·        Hemi-acetal structure

                ·        Haworth structure

               The types of Carbohydrates are detailly discussed in the upcoming articles.                    

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