Carbohydrates and Lipids (Leaving Cert Biology): Flashcards

Essential chemicals produced by living organisms

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen

$CH_2O$

Monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides

Simplest carbohydrates, single sugar unit

$C_6H_{12}O_6$

Two monosaccharide units joined together

Two glucose molecules

Not sweet-tasting, often insoluble in water

Extensive cross-bonding between glucose chains

Lipids have much less oxygen than carbohydrates

Fats solid at 20°C, oils liquid at 20°C

1 glycerol + 3 fatty acid chains

Essential for forming biological membranes

Lipids store >2× energy per gram than carbs