Synthesis/Hydrolysis and Carbohydrates

Monomers are amino acids, sugars, fatty acids, and nucleotides. They are joined together to form polymers (a chain of monomers linked together). Monomers are joined together through dehydration synthesis, and are broken down through hydrolysis. These reactions require ATP energy, water and enzymes in order to work.

Carbohydrates

In carbohydrates, the carbons, hydrogens, and oxygen are found in the ratio of 1:2:1, and are made up of a repeating chain of sugars. For example, C3H6O3 follows the ratio of 1:2:1and is therefore a carbohydrate. Monosaccharides include fructose, ribose, and deoxyribose. The basic sugar molecule is glucose and has a ring structure.

Disaccharides are formed when dehydration synthesis binds two sugars together. This is what a disaccharide looks like:

Types of disaccharides are maltose, sucrose, and lactose.

Polysaccharides mean there are many sugars that have been binded together though dehydration synthesis.When this occurs, four types of polysaccharides may be formed: starch, glycogen, cellulose, and chitin.

• Cellulose is the simplest carbohydrate in terms of structure. It is made up of long chains of glucose molecules and has no side chains. Cellulose makes up the cell walls of plants and cannot be digested by mammals. 

• Starch is made up of many glucose molecules linked together and has few side chains. Plants store their energy as starch  

• Animals store their energy as glycogen and is stored in humans in our liver and muscles. Glycogen has many side chains. 

• Chitin is long glucose chains linked with covalent bonds. It is very strong, and makes up structures such as exo-skeletons, fingernails, claws, and beaks.

Carbohydrates are used as energy. When the bonds between carbon atoms are broken, energy is released and this energy is used by cells. Carbs also have a structural function: cellulose is a structural compound found in plants.