Carbohydrates Essay examples - 576 Words

Carbohydrates and lipids/fats are a very important part of our lives. They have many similarities and differences among each other, which distinguish them from other macromolecules. Carbohydrates, which include sugar and their polymers, are used by organisms for fuel and building material. They come in many various forms going from simplicity to complexity. The simplest, monosaccharides, compose of single sugars whose parts are arranged around asymmetric carbons. They generally have a molecular formula that is a multiple of CH2O. Glucose, the most common monosaccharide, is of central importance in the chemistry of life. Energy is stored in glucose materials and extracts cells in the process of cellular respiration. When two†¦show more content†¦These strong cables help build walls for plants and humans. Chitin, conversely, mainly deals with strengthening the arthropods’ exoskeletons. The one thing all lipids have in common is the fact that they are hydrophobic. The three families of lipids are fats, phospholipids, steroids. Glycerol, a form of alcohol, constructs fats when it is mixed with fatty acids who consist of a carboxyl group on one end and hydrocarbon on the other. Three fatty acids linked to a glycerol make up triacylglyceral. If the carbon atoms composing the tail don’t form any double bonds then a unsaturated fat is made. Respectfully, if one or more bonds are formed, the fat becomes saturated. Phospholipids are related to these fats, but unlike triacylglyceral, they have only two fatty acids. These lipids make up bi-layers which form a boundary between a cell and its external environment. The result of this simply becomes the fact that phospholipids are important to cell membranes. When a carbon skeleton consists of four interconnected rings, the third type of lipid, steroid, is built. Cholesterol, a manufacturer of steroids, is one reason that sex hormones are present in vertebrates. Because of that, it has important functions even though a high amount in the blood can contribute towards atherosclerosis. Both carbohydrates and fats are an important part of our everyday diets. Almost everything you eat containsShow MoreRelatedThe Proteins Of Carbohydrates And Carbohydrates1091 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids are organic molecules found in every living organism. These macromolecules are large carbon based structures. The macromolecules are assembled by joining several smaller units, called monomers, together through a chemical reaction called dehydration synthesis. The resulting polymer can be disassembled through the complementary process called hydrolysis.Carbohydrates are made of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms in a 1:2:1 ratio. ThisRead MoreCarbohydrates Report1455 Words   |  6 PagesViviana Veber Bio 1510 Sec 21 Carbohydrates Introduction: The objective of this experiment was to identify the reaction of carbohydrates in Benedict’s test, Barfoed’s test and Iodine test. Carbohydrates are essential to living organisms, and the principal role of carbohydrates is the production of energy. Carbohydrates are groups of sugars that contain carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen in a 1:2:1 ratio. Three main units of carbohydrates are monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharidesRead MoreInvestigating Complex Carbohydrate Vs. Simple Carbohydrate Digestion1386 Words   |  6 Pages Investigating Complex Carbohydrate vs. Simple Carbohydrate Digestion in the Small Intestine. Graehem McCommons, Joey Bolduc 1st Hour Abstract: The primary objective of this lab was to investigate the process of carbohydrate digestion and absorption in the small intestine. The goal of this lab was to observe how the small intestine’s membrane allowed allowed only certain sized molecules to travel across/diffuse through the membrane, and how it broke down largerRead MoreEssay on Lipids and Carbohydrates466 Words   |  2 PagesLipids and Carbohydrates Lipids are a group of substances, which include fats, oils and waxes. Carbohydrates include sugars, starches, glycogen and cellulose. They are stored in plants as starches and in animals as glycogen. There are many differences between carbohydrates and lipids. For example lipids are insoluble in water whereas carbohydrates are soluble in water. This is because lipids contain non - polar hydrocarbon units whereas water contains polar hydrocarbonRead MoreCarbohydrates Case Study735 Words   |  3 Pagesmetformin can act to reduce fasting glucose by 50–70 mg/dL and the HbA1c from 1.3 to 2.0% (Villareal et al, 2005). 3.6.8. ÃŽ ±-Glucosidase inhibitors: ÃŽ ±-Glucosidase inhibitors slow the rate of absorption of carbohydrate by preventing gastrointestinal enzymes which convert complex polysaccharide carbohydrates into monosaccharides in a dose-dependent state. They also aid in the stimulation of secretion of the glucagon like peptide (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) (Feruze, 2001;Read MoreCarbohydrate and Points Essay612 Words   |  3 Pagesthe observance of a particular enzyme in a test performance. (3 points) 14.While working a part-time at a lab, the student is asked to grab a jar that contains carbohydrates. Two jars are on the counter, each labeled with their chemical formula. One is labeled C5H10O5, and the other is C3H9O3. (6 points) a.Which one is the carbohydrate? (1 point) b.What was the students decision based upon? (4 points) c.What type of sugar is it? (1 points) 15.Many commercial food products are sweetened withRead MoreInvestigating The Bonding Of A Carbohydrate1077 Words   |  5 Pages Carbohydrate Analysis Introduction and Purpose Carbohydrates are organic compounds that consist of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen. There are four different ways that carbohydrates can be classified: monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides. Monosaccharides are the simplest sugars. They are aliphatic aldehydes or ketones and most have five or six carbon atoms. Oligosaccharides are two monosaccharides linked together by the elimination of a water molecule which allows the glycosidicRead MoreNutrition And Macronutrients : Carbohydrates1182 Words   |  5 PagesNutrition and Macronutrients: Carbohydrates: Carbohydrate, in the form of glucose, is the preferred fuel for working muscles. It is particularly important during high intensity activity but whatever exercise is performed some carbohydrate will be used. Glucose is stored in the muscles and liver as a substance known as glycogen and is rapidly converted back to glucose when is it required. The capacity for glycogen storage is limited - a 70kg individual has glycogen reserves of approximately 400gRead MoreEssay about Chemistry and Carbohydrates1082 Words   |  5 Pages The Chemistry of Carbohydrates The chemistry of carbohydrates most closely resembles that of alcohol, aldehyde, and ketone functional groups. As a result, the modern definition of a carbohydrate is that the compounds are polyhydroxy aldehydes or ketones. The chemistry of carbohydrates is complicated by the fact that there is a functional group (alcohol) on almost every carbon. In addition, the carbohydrate may exist in either a straight chain or a ring structure. Ring structures incorporate twoRead MoreChemical And Physical Properties Of Carbohydrates963 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Carbohydrates are defined by the following classifications: polyalcohols with aldehyde (known as aldose) or ketone (known as a ketose) groups, reducing molecules and water soluble. Additionally, carbohydrates can be grouped in several ways, as either monosaccharides, disaccharides or polysaccharides. Monosaccharides have one carbohydrate unit. Disaccharides have two carbohydrate units. Polysaccharides have many carbohydrate units. An example for each includes: glucose (monosaccharides)