Carbohydrates
There are four groups of carbohydrates: mono, di, oligo
and polysaccharides.
Carbohydrates are energy suppliers and are useful for structure.
Monosaccharides are bound by glycosidic links
in a CH2O formula
Alpha glucose, beta glucose, mannose, and fructose are all types of
monosaccharides.
Alpha and beta glucose are the most common.
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Disaccharides are composed of two simple sugars.
Maltose has an alpha 1,4 glycosidic link. Therefore it
breaks up more easily.
Cellulose has a beta 1,4 glycosidic link and therefore is more stable.
Sucrose and lactose are also examples of disaccharides.
Oligosaccharides are composed of anywhere from three to twenty simple sugars.
Polysaccharides are composed of twenty or more simple sugars.
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