Chapter 23.2, Problem 8SSC

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The structures of monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides should be described. The largest molecular mass species and smaller molecular mass species should be determined.

Concept introduction:

A biological molecule which consists of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen is known as saccharide or carbohydrate. The general formula of saccharide is ${{\text{(CH}}_{\text{2}}\text{O)}}_{\text{n}}$.

Saccharides (sugar) are classified as: monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides.

Explanation of Solution

Monosaccharides are defined as a simpler carbohydrate which contains one sugar molecule and can’t hydrolyze into smaller carbohydrate. An example of monosaccharide is glucose.

The structure of glucose is:

Disaccharides are defined as a saccharide which contains two sugar molecules. It is formed when two monosaccharides are linked by glycosidic bonds. It is a double ring structure. An example of disaccharide is sucrose.

The structure of sucrose is:

Sucrose is formed by the reaction between two monosaccharides that are fructose and glucose with removal of water.

Polysaccharides are defined as a saccharide which contains many units of sugar molecules that is more than two monosaccharides are linked by glycosidic bonds. It is a complex carbohydrate.

Now, molecular mass of polysaccharide is more in comparison to disaccharide and monosaccharide. Monosaccharide has less molecular mass in comparison to disaccharide.

The molecular mass order is:

$\text{Monosaccharide < Disaccharide < Polysaccharide}$