Carbohydrate structure: Difference between revisions
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Carbohydrates are molecules which consist of Carbon atoms, Oxygen atoms and Hydrogen atoms. Sometimes Nitrogen and | [[Carbohydrates|Carbohydrates]] are [[Molecule|molecules]] which consist of [[Carbon|carbon]] [[Atom|atoms]], [[Oxygen|oxygen]] atoms and [[Hydrogen|hydrogen]] atoms. Sometimes [[Nitrogen|nitrogen]] and [[Sulphur|sulphur]] atoms can be present too. The [[empirical formula|empirical formula]] of carbohydrates is (CH<sub>2</sub>O)<sub>n</sub>. All carbohydrates consist of an [[Aldehyde|aldehyde]] or [[Ketone|ketone]] molecule with at least one [[Hydroxyl group|hydroxyl group]] attached. [[Monosaccharides|Monosaccharides]] are the simplest carbohydrates, they are [[Aldehyde|aldehydes]] or [[Ketone|ketones]] with at least two hydroxyls attached. | ||
Carbohydrates have many isomers due to them containing numerous chiral centres. | Carbohydrates have many [[Isomer|isomers]] due to them containing numerous [[Chiral centre|chiral centres]]. [[Stereoisomer|Stereoisomers]] are isomers with the same atoms but with a different arrangement of atoms in space. Carboydrates can form D or L isomers, called [[Enantiomers|enantiomers]]. | ||
Chiral centres occur when an [[Alpha carbon|alpha carbon]] has four different groups attached to it. The two compounds are called [[Stereoisomer|stereoisomers]] and are mirror images of each other for example Beta – D – [[Glucose|glucose]], and Beta – L – Glucose are stereoisomers and rotate the plane of polarised light in opposite directions. The D isomer rotates the plane of polarised light clockwise and so is dextrorotatory, and the L isomer rotates the plane of polarised light anticlockwise and so is laevorotatory<ref name="null">Berg J., Tymoczko J., Stryer L., Biochemistry 7th Edition 2012. New York. WH Freeman. page 330-335</ref>. | |||
=== References === | |||
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Latest revision as of 18:26, 19 November 2018
Carbohydrates are molecules which consist of carbon atoms, oxygen atoms and hydrogen atoms. Sometimes nitrogen and sulphur atoms can be present too. The empirical formula of carbohydrates is (CH2O)n. All carbohydrates consist of an aldehyde or ketone molecule with at least one hydroxyl group attached. Monosaccharides are the simplest carbohydrates, they are aldehydes or ketones with at least two hydroxyls attached.
Carbohydrates have many isomers due to them containing numerous chiral centres. Stereoisomers are isomers with the same atoms but with a different arrangement of atoms in space. Carboydrates can form D or L isomers, called enantiomers.
Chiral centres occur when an alpha carbon has four different groups attached to it. The two compounds are called stereoisomers and are mirror images of each other for example Beta – D – glucose, and Beta – L – Glucose are stereoisomers and rotate the plane of polarised light in opposite directions. The D isomer rotates the plane of polarised light clockwise and so is dextrorotatory, and the L isomer rotates the plane of polarised light anticlockwise and so is laevorotatory[1].
References
- ↑ Berg J., Tymoczko J., Stryer L., Biochemistry 7th Edition 2012. New York. WH Freeman. page 330-335