What are Carbohydrates, Types, Major Functions.

If you are searching for all basic information about Carbohydrates then you have reached to a right web page. I will tell you the basic concept of carbohydrates, it's class or types and their functions.

What are Carbohydrates ?

Carbohydrates are polyhydroxy aldehydes and ketones which contain hydrogen and oxygen in the ratio of water (2:1) or those substances which are converted into polyhydroxy aldehydes and ketones after hydrolysis. Their general formula is Cx(H2O)y.

Major Classes/Types of Carbohydrates:

There are three major classes of carbohydrates which are:

1. Monosaccharides
2. polysaccarides
3. oligosaccharides

 Whats are monosaccharides ?

Monosaccharides are the carbohydrates which can not be further broken down into simple units by acid hydrolysis e.g., erthyrose, glucose, fructose, etc.

What are Oligosaccharies ?

Oligosaccharies are the carbohydrates which after the acid hydrolysis yield two or ten units of monosaccharides per molecule hydrolysis, e.g., sucrose, maltose, etc.

What are Polysaccharides ?

Carbohydrates which are formed by natural condensation of very large number of molecules of monosaccharides, e.g., cellulose, starch, etc.

Major Functions of Carbohydrates:

1. They are major source of energy.
2. They are used in making structures of cells.
3. They comprise large portions of nucleotides.
4. They play a role in lubrication and immunity.

 Conclusion:

All above is the basic information of Carbohydrates, containing short description of it's three types monosaccharides, polysaccharides and oligosaccharides. There ara many functions of Carbohydrates but we mentioned basics.
 

Share on Google Plus

From Editor Desk:

ChemHow is insisting Chemists arrount the world to interchage their knowledge and Experiences at this website.Please show your intrest about above content in below Comment Box.