Table of Contents
What are Carbohydrates?
Carbohydrates are a class of organic molecules that includes sugars and starches. Carbohydrates are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. The simplest carbohydrates are sugars, which are composed of a single sugar molecule. The most complex carbohydrates are starches, which are composed of many sugar molecules.
| S.NO | CONTENT |
| 1 | INTRODUCTION |
| 2 | STRUCTURE |
| 3 | TYPES |
| 4 | CLASSIFICATION |
| 5 | EXAMPLES |
Structure of Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are organic molecules that contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. The simplest type of carbohydrate is a sugar molecule, which consists of one or more sugar units. Glucose is the most common sugar unit and is the primary energy source for the body.
Carbohydrates are found in many foods, including fruits, vegetables, grains, milk and other dairy products. They are also found in processed foods such as soft drinks, candy and baked goods.
The structure of a carbohydrate molecule is based on a simple sugar unit. A sugar unit is composed of a molecule of glucose, a molecule of fructose or a molecule of galactose. Glucose is the most common sugar unit, and the one that is used by the body to produce energy.
There are two types of carbohydrates: simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates are made up of one or two sugar units, while complex carbohydrates are made up of three or more sugar units.
Simple carbohydrates are found in foods such as fruits, vegetables, milk and soft drinks. Complex carbohydrates are found in foods such as grains, breads and pasta.
Types of Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy. There are three main types of carbohydrates:
-Sugars are simple carbohydrates that are found in food items such as candy, soda and fruit. Sugars are absorbed quickly by the body and can provide a quick burst of energy.
-Starches are complex carbohydrates that are found in food items such as bread, pasta and potatoes. Starches are absorbed slowly by the body and can provide sustained energy.
-Fiber is a complex carbohydrate that is found in food items such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Fiber is not absorbed by the body and instead helps to regulate digestion.
Classification of carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are classified according to the number of sugar molecules they contain. Monosaccharides, such as glucose and fructose, are the simplest type of carbohydrate and consist of one sugar molecule. Disaccharides, such as sucrose and lactose, are composed of two sugar molecules. Polysaccharides, such as starch and glycogen, are composed of three or more sugar molecules.
Examples of Carbohydrates
– Sugars (monosaccharides and disaccharides)
– Starches
– Fibers
For more visit Classification of Carbohydrates | Examples and Structure of Carbohydrates
