Carbohydrates

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Carbohydrate Noun

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[kar-boh-hy-drayt]

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Carbohydrate

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A biological molecule with carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms, containing multiple hydroxyl groups and a carbonyl functional group.

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Example: This diagram shows how a large, complex carbohydrate molecule like starch is broken down into small, simple sugar molecules like glucose during digestion.

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Hydroxyl group Noun

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[hy-drok-sil groop]

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Hydroxyl group

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A functional group consisting of a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to an oxygen atom, often represented as -OH.

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Example: This image highlights a hydroxyl group, which is made of one oxygen and one hydrogen atom (-OH), by boxing it in blue on a simple molecule.

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Carbonyl group Noun

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[kar-buh-neel groop]

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Carbonyl group

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A functional group characterized by a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom, commonly represented as C=O.

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Example: This diagram shows a carbonyl group, which is a carbon atom (C) double-bonded to an oxygen atom (O), a key structural part of carbohydrates.

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Monomer Noun

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[mon-uh-mer]

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Monomer

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A single molecule that serves as a repeating subunit and can chemically bond with others to form a polymer.

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Example: This image shows that a large carbohydrate polymer, starch (found in a potato), is built from many small, repeating units of the monomer glucose.

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Polymer Noun

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[pol-i-mer]

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Polymer

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A large molecule, or macromolecule, composed of many repeating smaller subunits that are known as monomers.

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Example: This image shows four ways polymer chains can be structured: linear, branched, crosslinked, and networked. Carbohydrates like starch can be linear or branched polymers.

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Monosaccharide Noun

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[mon-oh-sak-uh-ride]

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Monosaccharide

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The simplest form of carbohydrate, also known as a simple sugar, that serves as a monomer for complex carbohydrates.

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Example: This image shows the molecular structure of glucose, a classic example of a monosaccharide, or single sugar unit, made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

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Aldehyde Noun

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[al-duh-hide]

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Aldehyde

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An organic compound containing a carbonyl group on the terminal carbon atom of a carbon chain.

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Example: This image shows the 2D structure and 3D model of formaldehyde, the simplest aldehyde, which contains the key carbon-oxygen double bond functional group.

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Ketone Noun

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[kee-tohn]

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Ketone

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An organic compound containing a carbonyl group on an interior carbon atom within a carbon chain.

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Example: This diagram shows the basic chemical structure of a ketone, which features a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom, positioned between two other carbon groups (R).

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Glucose Noun

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[gloo-kohs]

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Glucose

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A six-carbon monosaccharide that functions as the primary source of immediate energy for living organisms.

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Example: This image shows the molecular structure of glucose, a simple sugar. It is made of carbon (black), hydrogen (white), and oxygen (red) atoms.

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Galactose Noun

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[guh-lak-tohs]

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Galactose

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A six-carbon monosaccharide that differs from glucose in the spatial orientation of a single hydroxyl group.

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Example: This diagram shows the chemical structure of galactose, a simple sugar (monosaccharide), revealing the arrangement of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms that form its ring shape.