Question

Carbohydrates are also known as_?

What is carbohydrates?

What work in body carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates explanation?

Carbohydrates explanation with image?

Answer 1

Carbohydrates are one of the most important biomolecules that forms a major part of

the living things.

 Carbohydrates are primarily produced by plants and form a very large group of

naturally occurring organic compounds.

 Some common examples of carbohydrates are cane sugar, glucose, starch, etc.

 Most of them have a general formula, Cx(H2O)y, and were considered as hydrates of

carbon from where the name carbohydrate was derived.

Hydrate == a compound in which water molecules are chemically bound to another

compound or an element. Eg: α-d-Glucose hydrate (C6H14O7).

 For example, the molecular formula of glucose (C6H12O6) fits into this general

formula, C6(H2O)6. But all the compounds which fit into this formula may not be

classified as carbohydrates.

Acetic acid (CH3COOH) fits into this general formula Cx(H2O)y → C2(H2O)2 but is not a

carbohydrate.

Exception: Rhamnose, C6H12O5 is a carbohydrate but does not fit in this definition of

Cx(H2O)y.

 Chemically, the carbohydrates may be defined as optically active polyhydroxy

[multiple HO groups] aldehydes or ketones or the compounds which produce such

units on hydrolysis.

Carbohydrates produce aldehydes and ketones on hydrolysis [the chemical breakdown of a compound due to reaction with water].