Biochemistry: Carbohydrates Quiz

Carbohydrates (carbs) are organic compounds made of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms in the proportion of 1:2:1. These compounds contain multiple hydroxyl groups and a double bond between a carbon and a hydrogen atom. Carbohydrates range from monomers to polymers with thousands of monomer units. Carbohydrates are a key source of energy. Building blocks of carbs are monosaccharides, or simple sugars. These contain five or six carbon atoms. The most commonly known monosaccharides are fructose and glucose. Disaccharides form when two monosaccharides bond. Sucrose and lactose are commonly known disaccharides. Disaccharides are too large to be absorbed into the bloodstream, so they must be broken down. Complex carbohydrates are polysaccharides, which is a polymer of simple sugars. Cellulose, glycogen and starch are important polysaccharides. This quiz will cover the basics of carbohydrates. Select the best answer from the choices.