Carbohydrates

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Macromolecule Noun

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[mak-roh-mol-i-kyool]

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Macromolecule

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A large organic molecule, such as a carbohydrate or protein, formed by the joining of many smaller organic molecules.

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Example: This diagram shows a large starch macromolecule is broken down by digestion into many smaller glucose molecules, its building blocks.

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Polymer Noun

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[pol-uh-mer]

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Polymer

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A long molecule consisting of a chain of many repeating smaller units, called monomers, joined together by covalent bonds.

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Example: A polymer (necklace, glycogen) is a large molecule made by linking many small, repeating units called monomers (beads, glucose) together.

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Monomer Noun

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[mon-uh-mer]

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Monomer

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The smaller, repeating molecular unit that serves as the fundamental building block of a much larger molecule called a polymer.

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Example: This image shows the chemical structures of glucose, fructose, and galactose, which are all examples of simple sugar monomers, the basic building blocks of carbohydrates.

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Dehydration Synthesis Noun

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[dee-hai-dray-shun sin-thuh-sis]

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Dehydration Synthesis

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A chemical reaction in which two molecules are joined together by the removal of a single water molecule.

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Example: This diagram shows two simple molecules (monomers) joining together to form a larger molecule (a dimer) by removing a water molecule (H2O).

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Hydrolysis Noun

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[hai-drol-uh-sis]

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Hydrolysis

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A chemical reaction that breaks down a polymer by adding a water molecule to split the bond between its monomers.

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Example: A large sucrose carbohydrate molecule reacts with a water molecule (hydrolysis) and breaks apart into two smaller sugar molecules, glucose and fructose.

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Carbohydrate Noun

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[kar-boh-hai-drayt]

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Carbohydrate

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A class of macromolecule composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen that serves as a primary source of energy for organisms.

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Example: This image shows common foods like bread, rice, pasta, and sugar, which are all examples of carbohydrates, a major source of energy for the body.

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Macronutrient Noun

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[mak-roh-noo-tree-ent]

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Macronutrient

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A type of food, such as a carbohydrate, that is required in large amounts in the diet and must be obtained through food.

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Example: Macronutrients are the main nutrients our bodies need in large amounts, categorized into three groups: carbohydrates (carbs), proteins, and fats, found in different foods.

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Monosaccharide Noun

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[mon-oh-sak-uh-rahyd]

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Monosaccharide

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A simple, single-monomer sugar that is the basic building block of more complex carbohydrates; also known as a simple sugar.

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Example: This image shows the chemical structures of three common monosaccharides (simple sugars): glucose, fructose, and galactose, which are the basic building blocks of carbohydrates.

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Disaccharide Noun

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[dahy-sak-uh-rahyd]

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Disaccharide

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A carbohydrate molecule, also known as a double sugar, composed of two monosaccharide units linked together by dehydration synthesis.

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Example: This diagram shows how two simple sugar molecules (monosaccharides like glucose and fructose) join together to form a larger sugar molecule called a disaccharide (sucrose).

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Polysaccharide Noun

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[pol-ee-sak-uh-rahyd]

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Polysaccharide

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A complex carbohydrate, or polymer, made of many repeating monosaccharide units, often used for energy storage or structural purposes.

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Example: This diagram shows that a polysaccharide (like starch) is a large, complex carbohydrate made by linking many simple sugar molecules (glucose) together in a long chain.