CARBOHYDRATES

Carbohydrates make up a group of chemical compounds found in plant and animal cells. They have the empirical formula CnH2nOn, or (CH2O)n. An empirical formula tells the atomic composition of the compound, but nothing about structure, size, or what chemical bonds are present. Since this formula is essentially a combination of carbon and water, these materials are called “hydrates of carbon”, or carbohydrates for short. Carbohydrates are the primary products of plant photosynthesis. The simplified light-driven reaction of photosynthesis results in the formation of a carbohydrate: nH2O + nCO2 → -(CH2O)n- + nO2. This type of carbohydrate is found in the structures of plants and is used in the reverse reaction of photosynthesis (respiration) or is consumed as fuel by plants and animals. Carbohydrates are widely available and inexpensive, and are used as an energy source for our bodies and for cell structures. Food carbohydrates include the simple carbohydrates (sugars) and complex carbohydrates (starches and fiber). Before a big race, distance runners and cyclists eat foods containing complex carbohydrates (pasta, pizza, rice and bread) to give them sustained energy. Carbohydrates are divided into monosaccharides, disaccharides, and
polysaccharides