Carbohydrate are produced by linking together monosaccharide monomers to build disaccharide and polysaccharide polymers using a glycosidic bond.
This is a condensation reaction (H2O released)
Form of Carbohydrate | Examples | Use in Plants | Uses in Animals |
---|---|---|---|
Monosaccharide | Fructose Glucose Galactose | Fructose is a component of fruits making them taste sweet and attracting animals to eat them, thereby dispersing the seeds inside | Glucose is the source of energy for cell respiration – it is obtained from the digestion of carbohydrate foods |
Disaccharide | Sucrose Lactose Maltose | Sucrose is transported from leaves to storage tissues and other parts of the plant to provide an energy source | Lactose is found in milk and provides energy for young mammals |
Polysaccharide | Cellulose Starch Glycogen | Cellulose is a structural component of plant cell walls Starch is used a food store | Glycogen is the storage carbohydrate of animals, found in the liver and muscles |