Question

Name and describe the three different classifications of (CH2O)n

Answer 1

Carbohydrates are polyhydroxy aldehydes or polyhydroxy ketones, or compounds that yield then on hydrolysis. They are the compounds of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen with general formula (CH₂O)_n. Carbohydrates are classified into three main groups; Monosaccharides, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides.

1. Monosaccharides:- They consist of a single polyhydroxy aldehyde or ketone unit. They are simple sugars and cannot be hydrolyzed further into simpler forms. They have a general formula C_nH_2nO_n. Monosaccharides are further classified into Aldoses containing aldehyde group like glucose and Ketoses containing ketone group like fructose.

2. Oligosaccharides:- They are carbohydrates made up of two to ten monosaccharide units joined together by glycosidic linkage. Among the oligosaccharides most abundant are disaccharides containing two monosaccharide units like maltose (Glucose+Glucose), Sucrose (Glucose+Fructose).

3. Polysaccharides:- They are carbohydrates which are polymer of hundreds and thousands monosaccharide units joined through glycosidic linkage. Polysaccharides are also called glycans and are further classified as Homo-polysaccharides made of same monosaccharide units like cellulose (Polymer of glucose), Starch (Polymer of glucose) and Heteropolysaccharides like Glycosaimoglycans (made of repeating disaccharide units)