chapter 7 section 1

Question 1

What is the general formula for carbohydrates?

Answer 1

(CH2O)n, where n≥3

Question 2

What are monosaccharides?

Answer 2

Simple sugars that cannot be broken down into smaller sugars under mild conditions.

Question 3

What does “oligosaccharide” mean, and how many sugar units does it contain?

Answer 3

“Oligo” = few; contains 2–10 sugar units

Question 4

How are polysaccharides different from oligosaccharides?

Answer 4

Polysaccharides are long polymers of monosaccharides, often containing hundreds or thousands of units, and may be linear or branched.

Question 5

What is a common functional feature of oligosaccharides in cells?

Answer 5

They are often covalently attached to proteins (glycoproteins).