What Is Carbohydrates?
What is carbohydrates?
Carbohydrates or sugar are macromolecules which are made of the elements carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen that usually forms a ring structure. It is an important compound in the formation and continuation of life. It can exist in single units (monosaccharides), a few units (oligosaccharides), or a very long chain (polysaccharides). Each unit can be used in different purposes. For example monosaccharides are usually used up for energy since they can be easily broken up to retrieved the elements individually. A good example of this is glucose which is used up by our body as a fuel. On the other hand, few or long chains of carbohydrates are used for complex purposes like structures. The cellulose in the cell wall of a plant is a great example of a polysaccharide. It is made up of a long chain of carbohydrates with complex bonds which make it rigid and resistant to certain levels of internal and external pressure.
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