1.2: Carbohydrates - Monosaccharides

Question 1

What is the unusual property of carbon that allows it to form large molecules

Answer 1

It readily bonds with other carbon atoms allowing a sequence of carbon atoms of varying lengths to be built up.

These form a backbone alone with other atoms can be attached

Question 2

What is a monomer

Answer 2

A single basic unit that can join together to form larger chains known as polymers

Question 3

What is a polymer

Answer 3

A polymer is multiple basic units joined together to form larger chains of their constituent monomers

Question 4

What is a monosaccharide

Answer 4

Monomer of a sugar

Question 5

What is a disaccharide

Answer 5

A pair of monosaccharides

Question 6

What is a polysacchardie

Answer 6

Multiple monosaccharides joined together

Question 7

Examples of Monosaccharides

Answer 7

Glucose

Fructose

Galactose

Question 8

Different types of Glucose

Answer 8

Alpha glucose (hydrogens attached to hexagon both on top)

Beta glucose (hydrogens attached to hexagon one on top one below)

Question 9

Why are monosaccharides and some disaccharides known as reducing sugars

Answer 9

Because they are capable of donating an electron to another species, they are a reducing agent and therefore reduce another species and are oxidised themselves

Question 10

Test for reducing sugars

Answer 10

1. Add 2cm of the food sample to be tested into a test tube
2. Add an equal volume of Benedicts reagent
3. Heat the mixture gently in a boiling water bath for 5 minutes

Orange/Brown ppt = High concentration of reducing sugar

Question 11

What is the benedicts test

Answer 11

Semi-quantitative, it is only an estimate of the approximate amount of reducing sugar