Understanding Carbohydrate Structures

Carbohydrates are vital biomolecules that serve various functions in living organisms, including energy storage and structural support. They can exist in several forms such as monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides. One common form of carbohydrate is glucose, a monosaccharide that is pivotal for cellular respiration. The molecular formula for glucose is C₆H₁₂O₆. In the structure of carbohydrates, the arrangement of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms plays a crucial role in their chemical properties and functions.

Consider the disaccharide sucrose, which is composed of two monosaccharides: glucose and fructose. Understanding the basic structures of these carbohydrates can help in comprehending their roles in metabolic pathways.