14.1 Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are the most abundant organic compounds in every living organism. They are also known as saccharides (derived from Greek word ‘ sakcharon ’ which means sugar) as many of them are sweet. They are considered as hydrates of carbon, containing hydrogen and oxygen in the same ratio as in water. Chemically, they are defined as polyhydroxy aldehydes or ketones with a general formula C n (H O) n .

Some common examples are glucose (monosaccharide), sucrose (disaccharide) and starch (polysaccharide) Figure . . Structure of carbohydrates Carbohydrates are synthesised by green leaves during photo synthesis, a complex process in which sun light provides the energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. Glucose is then converted into other carbohydrates and is consumed by animals.