FCI Tutorial 1

What is the minimum value of n in the carbohydrate formula (CH2O)n?

• 2

• 2

• 3

• 4

Calculate the number of possible stereoisomers for a carbohydrate with 2 chiral carbon atoms.

Which of the following statements about carbohydrates is FALSE?

• Monosaccharides can exist in cyclic and acyclic forms.

• All carbohydrates have at least one chiral center.

• The D- and L- configurations are based on the arrangement around the chiral carbon farthest from the carbonyl group.

• Carbohydrates can form glycosidic bonds to create polysaccharides.

What is the primary function of carbohydrates in living organisms?

• Enzyme catalysis

• Structural support

• Genetic information

• Energy storage

What happens to sucrose molecules during crystallisation?

• They break down into glucose and fructose.

• They form highly ordered arrays.

• They become amorphous and disordered.

• They dissolve completely in water.

What causes sucrose to form glassy solid structure?

• Slow cooling of a concentrated sucrose solution

• Rapid cooling of a concentrated sucrose solution

• Heating a concentrated sucrose solution

• Adding water to a crystalline sucrose solid

Amylopectin swells because of its high water solubility.

• True

• False

The primary functional role of starch in most food products is to:

• Act as a sweetener

• Provide thickening and gelation properties

• Enhance browning of foods

Amylose has higher affinity to bind with iodine than amylopectin.

• True

• False

Amylopectin differs from amylose mainly because amylopectin:

• Is composed of β-glucose units

• Is completely water-soluble

• Contains α-1,6 branch points

• Has a lower molecular weight