5.2.summary

5.2 talks about carbohydrates that provide fuel and building materials.

-A carbohydrate is a type of organic compound made of sugar molecules. 

-Monosaccharides are simple sugars that contain one sugar unit. Examples of monosaccharides are fructose, glucose, and galactose. 

-Disaccharides are basically two monosaccharides joined together and the most common dissaccharide is sucrose. 

-Polysaccharides are long polymer chains of simple sugar monomers, starch is a type of polysaccharide found in plant cells which consists of only glucose monomers. 

-Animal cells are different they don't contain starch, so they store excess sugar in the form of a polysaccharide known as glycogen.

-Many carbohydrates are hydrophillic due to the many hydroxyl groups their sugar units. 

Picture of carbohydrates, from http://invitrofertilitygoddess.com/wp-content/uploads/slow%20carbs.jpg

Concept Check
1. Explain the difference between a monosaccharide and a dissacharide. Give an example of each.
Monosaccharides are single sugar units dissacharides are double sugars that are made by two monosaccharides.
2. Compare and contrast starch, glycogen and cellulose.
Starch is a polysaccharide found in plants constructed entirely of glucose monomers. Glycogen is found in animals, and is used to store excess sugar in the form of a polysaccharide. Cellulose is a polysaccharide found in plants that serve as building materials.

3. How do animals store excess glucose molecules?
Animals store glucose as glycogen. Glycogen is usually stored as granules in liver and muscle cells.