Carbohydrate

Carbohydrate
A carbohydrate is a biomolecule consisting of carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) atoms, usually with a hydrogen–oxygen atom ratio of 2:1 (as in water). The general structure for carbohydrates is (CH2O) n. Monosaccharides, which are simple sugars that necessary for living organisms and are required as energy sources. The carbohydrates are technically hydrates of carbon; structurally it is more accurate to view them as aldoses and ketoses.
The Functions of Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates have six major functions within the body the most important four are included:
1- Providing energy
2- Regulation of blood glucose.
3- Sparing the use of proteins for energy.
4- Breakdown of fatty acids and preventing ketosis.

Carbohydrate Classification




Carbohydrate Reactions
1- Carbonyl group
Oxidation to a carboxylic acid group, reduction to a hydroxyl group, cyanohydrin reaction (and reaction with other nucleophiles)
2- Hydroxyl groups
Esterformation, etherformation, cyclic acetal, oxidation to carbonyl, reduction to deoxy and replacement with NH2, SH, or X
Where X is halogen
3- Both carbonyl and hydroxyl groups
Cyclic hemiacetals (pyranose/furanose), formation of acetals (glycosides) and aldose/ketose isomerizations