Adriano, Cedric Kelvin C.

BSN – 104

Homework 2 BioChem

1. What are carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates are macronutrients and are one of the three main ways by which our body
obtains its energy. When you consume carbohydrates, your body breaks them down into glucose,
which is used to fuel cells and provide energy. Excess glucose is stored in the liver and muscles as
glycogen for future energy needs. Carbohydrates are organic compounds composed of carbon,
hydrogen, and oxygen atoms.

They can be classified into two main categories:

Simple Carbohydrates: These are also known as simple sugars. They consist of one or two
sugar molecules and are quickly digested and send immediate bursts of glucose (energy) into the
bloodstream.

Complex Carbohydrates: Complex carbohydrates are composed of multiple sugar molecules

linked together. They supply a slower release of glucose into the bloodstream, providing a more
sustained source of energy.

2-7. Differentiate Fischer, Haworth, and Chair Projections in writing carbohydrate

structures. Give examples of each. (2 points for each projection)

Fischer, Haworth, and Chair projections are three common ways to represent the structures
of carbohydrates, each providing a different perspective on the molecule's three-dimensional
arrangement.

In Fischer Projection:

Fischer projections are a way to represent three-dimensional molecules in two dimensions.

By following specific rules for drawing these projections

Fischer Projection of Glucose

 While in Haworth Projection the carbon chain is depicted as a ring, with the most oxidized
carbon (usually the carbonyl group) on top.

They are used to represent carbohydrates in a cyclic form, particularly for monosaccharides
like glucose and fructose.

Haworth Projection of Glucose

A “chair” conformation can be used to more accurately depict the spatial positioning of the
atoms; however, this conformation can make determination of the carbohydrate's basic
stereochemistry more difficult.

Chair Projection of Glucose

8-15. What are the different classifications of carbohydrates based on the number of sugar units?
Describe each. (2 points each type)

Carbohydrates can be classified into different categories based on the number of sugar units they
contain. These classifications are monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides.

Monosaccharides are the simplest carbohydrates, consisting of a single sugar unit. They are often
referred to as the building blocks of carbohydrates. These sugars are easily absorbed and provide
quick energy for the body. Monosaccharides serve as the basic structural units for more complex
carbohydrates.

Examples of Monosaccharides:
Glucose, fructose, and galactose

Disaccharides are composed of two monosaccharide units linked together by a glycosidic bond.
Disaccharides are often found in sweet foods and are broken down into monosaccharides during
digestion for absorption.

Examples of Disaccharides:

sucrose (glucose + fructose) lactose (glucose + galactose), and maltose (glucose + glucose)

Polysaccharides

Polysaccharides are large, complex carbohydrates made up of numerous monosaccharide units

linked together in long chains. They serve as energy storage molecules and structural components in
living organisms.

Examples of Polysaccharides:

Starch, glycogen, cellulose, and chitin are primary examples of polysaccharides.

II. Give at least 2 examples of monosaccharides classification based on the following and show
your answer in a tabular manner

● Number of Carbon atoms present

● Type of carbonyl group (functional group)

● Number of Carbon atoms and type of carbonyl group (functional group)

Monosaccharide Carbon Atoms Classification Carbonyl Group Number of

Example Present Atoms Present
Fructose 6 Ketose Ketone 24
Glucose 6 Aldose Aldehyde 24

III. Differentiate the following. Isomerism types among carbohydrates, give an example of each
expressed in Fischer or Haworth projection.

L and D Isomers

The main difference between L and D isomers is that the OH- group of the penultimate
carbon is positioned on the right side of the D isomer whereas, in L isomer, it is located on the left
side.

Pyran and Furan

Pyran is the chemistry any of a class of heterocyclic compounds containing a ring of the five
carbon atoms and an oxygen atom especially the simplest one C5H6o while Furan is organic
chemistry any of a class of aromatic heterocyclic compounds containing a ring of the four carbon
atoms and an oxygen atom.

Alpha and Beta

Alpha the name given to the configuration of a cyclic sugar where the oxygen on the
anomeric carbon is on the opposite face of the ring relative to the substituent on the other carbon
flanking the ring oxygen. Contrasted with Beta (β) which is where the two substituents are on the
same faces of the ring.

IV. Show the family tree of Aldoses and Ketoses

 References

American Heart Association. (2019). Carbohydrates, There are two types of carbohydrates:
simple and complex.

https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/carbohydrates

Medline Plus. (2022). What are carbohydrates?

https://medlineplus.gov/carbohydrates.html

Khan Academy (2011) Fischer Projection

https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/chemical-processes/nucleic-acids-lipids-and-
carbohydrates/v/fischer-projections

The Organic Chemistry Teacher (2019) Haworth and Fischer Projections

https://youtu.be/7FR2_VjwKYk?si=hkIDZjA5lFW8pwJT

Bhatt J (2022) Classification of Monosaccharide, Disaccharide and Polysaccharide. J

Glycomics Lipidomics. 11:310.

Classification of Saccharides https://www.longdom.org/open-access/classification-of-

monosaccharide-disaccharide-and-polysaccharide-92756.html

Monosaccharideshttps://chem.libretexts.org/Courses/Sacramento_City_College/SCC
%3A_Chem_309_-_General_Organic_and_Biochemistry_(Bennett)/Text/14%3A_Carbohydrates/
14.2%3A_Classes_of_Monosaccharides

https://sphweb.bumc.bu.edu/otlt/mphmodules/ph/ph709_basiccellbiology/
PH709_BasicCellBIology3.html#:~:text=Fructose%20is%20another%20sugar%20that,to%20combine
%20with%20other%20molecules.

https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/2018/02/19/the-big-damn-post-of-sugar-nomenclature/
#:~:text=%CE%B1%20(Alpha)%20%E2%80%93%20the%20name,same%20faces%20of%20the
%20ring.

https://pediaa.com/difference-between-l-and-d-isomers/

Family Tree of Aldoses https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F

%2Fwww.sciencedirect.com%2Ftopics%2Fbiochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology
%2Faldose&psig=AOvVaw0XRbB82tkugYwlO5v6qFIO&ust=1697233190936000&source=images&cd=
vfe&ved=0CBcQtaYDahcKEwiY1uC8vPGBAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQBg

Family Tree of Ketoses https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F

%2Fwww.chemistrysteps.com%2Faldoses-and-ketoses-classification-and-stereochemistry
%2F&psig=AOvVaw2-
MhAuDFGeAPfubYzbwztp&ust=1697233266801000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CBMQtaYDahcK
EwiokvjgvPGBAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQBg