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Carbohydrates form a large group of molecules that can be synthesized by plants.
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| Submitted: Thu Oct 16 2003
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Carbohydrates Carbohydrates form a large group of molecules that can be synthesized by plants. They contain carbon, together with hydrogen and oxygen. The ratio of hydrogen to oxygen atoms in the molecules is usually 2:1. These, as a class, are the most abundant organic compounds found in nature. Green plants (and bacteria) produce carbohydrates by the process of photosynthesis. Carbohydrates may be grouped into three categories monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides. Monosaccharides and disaccharides are the sugars (simple carbohydrates), whilst the polysaccharides (complex carbohydrates) are the non-sugars. Of the sugars, monosaccharides are sweeter than disaccharides. Monosaccharides Monosaccharides are the smallest carbohydrates. Monosaccharides have general formula (CH2O) n, n =3 to 9.They are known as monomers (the building blocks of complex molecules {polysaccharides}). They contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in the ratio 1:2:1. The following are the monosaccharides in order Glucose, Galactose, Fructose, pentoses, hexoses Monosaccharides have following properties they are small with low molecular mass,...
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