What types of compounds are carbohydrates?

1 answer

Carbohydrates are organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms in a ratio of 1:2:1. They are classified into several types based on their structure and complexity:

1. Monosaccharides: These are the simplest forms of carbohydrates, consisting of a single sugar unit. Examples include glucose, fructose, and galactose.

2. Disaccharides: Composed of two monosaccharide units that are joined by a glycosidic bond. Common disaccharides include sucrose (glucose + fructose), lactose (glucose + galactose), and maltose (glucose + glucose).

3. Oligosaccharides: Contain a small number of monosaccharide units (usually 3-9). Examples include raffinose and stachyose.

4. Polysaccharides: Composed of long chains of monosaccharide units joined by glycosidic bonds. These can be categorized into two types:
a. Homopolysaccharides: Consist of only one type of monosaccharide unit. Examples include starch and glycogen (composed of glucose units).
b. Heteropolysaccharides: Contain two or more different types of monosaccharide units. Examples include chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid.

Carbohydrates play crucial roles as energy sources and structural components in living organisms.