Structures of Monosaccharides
The simplest monosaccharides are trioses such as glyceraldehyde and dihydroxyacetone, both of which have the molecular formula C3H6O3, glyceraldehyde is aldose while dihydroxyacetone is ketose as shown below:
The majority of famed monosaccharides are ribose, C5H10O5, glucose C6H12O6, and fructose C6H12O6. Ribose is aldopentose, glucose is aldohexose while fructose is ketohexose.
Monosaccharides
The branch of chemistry that deals with the molecules involved in living things is called biochemistry. Carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and nucleic acids are some of the major components of our body. These are collectively called biomolecules.
A biomolecule is sometimes associated as a biological molecule, a term that refers to molecules found in living objects that are important for one or additional biological processes, analogous to cell division, morphogenesis, or development. Large macromolecules (or polyanions) similar to proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids, as well as primary metabolites, secondary metabolites, and smaller moieties, similar to natural products, are all examples of biomolecules. Natural material is the more broad term for this type of material. Biomolecules are essential factors of living organisms. While endogenous biomolecules are made within the organism, organisms usually require external biomolecules, such as specific nutrients, to be present.
Carbohydrates are optically active polyhydroxy aldehydes or polyhydroxy ketones or substances that upon hydrolyzed would produce these types of compounds.
Table of Content
- What are Monosaccharides?
- Structures of Monosaccharides
- D- and L- Designation
- Where can we find Glucose?
- Presence of Asymmetric Carbon Atoms
- Examples of Monosaccharides
- Sample Questions on Monosaccharides
- Preparation of Glucose