Carbohydrates

What are carbohydrates made from?

Most are polymers. The monomers are monosaccharides. 

Glucose is a monosaccharide with six carbon atoms in each molecule. Alpha and Beta glucose. Glucose's structure makes it soluble for transportation and contains energy in it's chemical bonds. 

Polysaccharide Formation

Monosaccharides are joined together by glycosidic bonds. During synthesis, a hydrogen atom on one monosaccharide bonds to a hydroxyl group on the other, releasing a molecule of water - condensation. The reverse of this is hydrolysis. A molecule of water reacts with the glycosidic bond, breaking it apart. 

Functions of Carbohydrates

Starch

Main energy storage in plants. Plants store excess glucose…