Question

How many carbon atoms are generally used in of monosaccharides? (a) 3 to 7 (b) 1 to 5 (c) 5 to 10 (d) 5 to 15

Short answer

Monosaccharides generally consist of 3 to 7 carbon atoms, so the correct answer is (a) 3 to 7.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Monosaccharides

Monosaccharides are the simplest form of carbohydrates and typically consist of a single sugar molecule. They are characterized by the presence of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O), usually in a ratio of 1:2:1, respectively.

Identifying the Carbon Range in Common Monosaccharides

Common monosaccharides like glucose, fructose, and galactose contain six carbon atoms. Other monosaccharides can have different numbers of carbon atoms, but the most commonly occurring monosaccharides have between three and seven carbon atoms.

Choosing the Correct Option

Given the common number of carbon atoms in monosaccharides, we can determine that the correct choice is (a) 3 to 7, as it fits the range for commonly found monosaccharides.

Key concepts

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are a vital group of biomolecules that serve as energy sources and structural components in living organisms. They are commonly known as sugars, and their most basic units are monosaccharides. These simple sugars are the building blocks for more complex carbohydrates such as disaccharides (which consist of two monosaccharide units) and polysaccharides (long chains of monosaccharides).

The structure of carbohydrates is central to their function. Composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms, they typically follow a general formula of \(C_{n}(H_{2}O)_{n}\), although there are exceptions. For instance, deoxyribose, a component of DNA, is a monosaccharide but does not precisely adhere to this formula.

• Monosaccharides are classified based on the number of carbon atoms they contain: trioses (three carbon atoms), tetroses (four), pentoses (five), hexoses (six), and heptoses (seven).
• Functionally, monosaccharides are a quick source of energy, especially glucose, which is the most widely utilized by the body's cells.
• In photosynthesis, plants synthesize glucose, which is then used by both plants and animals for energy.
• Some carbohydrates serve as structural components, such as cellulose in plants and chitin in arthropod exoskeletons.

Understanding the role and structure of carbohydrates is crucial for grasping more complex biological processes and their biochemical significance.

Glucose

Glucose is the most prevalent and essential monosaccharide in human metabolism. It's a hexose, meaning it contains six carbon atoms forming a six-membered ring structure (five carbons and one oxygen). It falls under the carbohydrate category and adheres to the general formula \(C_{6}H_{12}O_{6}\).

Here are some key points about glucose:

• Glucose is the primary source of energy for the body's cells. It is easily absorbed and utilized in cellular respiration to produce ATP, the molecule that powers most cellular activities.
• It is a critical player in metabolic pathways like glycolysis and the Krebs (citric acid) cycle.
• The levels of glucose in the blood are tightly regulated by hormones such as insulin and glucagon to maintain homeostasis.
• In plants, glucose results from photosynthesis and is used for energy or converted into other carbohydrates for storage.
• In medicine, blood glucose levels are critical indicators of metabolic health, and dysregulation is a hallmark of diabetes mellitus.

Understanding glucose is not only fundamental for biochemistry students but also for individuals interested in health sciences and nutrition.

Biochemistry

Biochemistry is the scientific study that combines biology and chemistry to explore the chemical processes within and related to living organisms. It's a field that has significant implications for a wide range of scientific disciplines, from genetics to pharmacology.

In biochemistry, monosaccharides like glucose are explored deeply regarding their role in metabolism and energy production. Enzymes that act on monosaccharides are thoroughly studied, as these enzymes facilitate the biochemical reactions that convert these sugars into energy-rich compounds like ATP.

Furthermore, biochemistry looks at the larger context of monosaccharides within the body:

• It studies the transport of glucose across cell membranes through specific transporter proteins.
• It concerns with the synthesis and breakdown of glycogen, the storage form of glucose in animals.
• It examines the implications of carbohydrate metabolism in health and disease, for instance, in the development of diabetes.
• Researchers in biochemistry also focus on the structural biology of carbohydrates, analyzing how the arrangement of atoms affects their properties and interactions.

Students of biochemistry learn to apply their knowledge to innovate in biotechnology, medicine, and environmental sciences.