Carbohydrates
Introduction
Carbohydrates is the energy source that all animals use to function. Carbohydrates are sugars that can be received from many various different types of foods. Fructose, a type of carb that is sourced from fruits. Some other types of carbs are glucose, galactose, starch, and sucrose. They come in different forms like monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides. All three are isomers. Disaccharides are two monosaccharides bonded together and a polysaccharide is two disaccharides or multiple monosaccharides bonded together.
Carbohydrates is the energy source that all animals use to function. Carbohydrates are sugars that can be received from many various different types of foods. Fructose, a type of carb that is sourced from fruits. Some other types of carbs are glucose, galactose, starch, and sucrose. They come in different forms like monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides. All three are isomers. Disaccharides are two monosaccharides bonded together and a polysaccharide is two disaccharides or multiple monosaccharides bonded together.
Carbohydrate Structures
White is hydrogen, Blue is oxygen, and Black is carbon
H20(water) molecule
Fructose(fruit sugar) Molecule
Glucose Molecule
Galactose Molecule
Sucrose(table sugar) Molecule next to a Water Molecule
Starch Molecule
Carbohydrate Lab
For the carbohydrate test that we did was we used the iodine test, the Benedict's test, the Barfoed's test, and the Seliwanoff's test to figure out what type of carbohydrate the unknowns were. We also used a model tree to conclude the identity of the unknowns. After the iodine test, unknown D tested positive so that concludes that the unknown is a polysaccharide. We later agreed it was starch. After the Benedict's test, unknown C was the only one that test negative. This test concluded that it is not a reducing sugar. Later on we labelled it at sucrose. Then the Barfoed's took place, this test looks for disaccharides. Unknown A tested negative meaning its a disaccharide. We later concluded that it was lactose. The final test done was the Seliwanoff's test which tests for ketoses. Substance B tested positive meaning that its a ketose. We then concluded it was fructose. The negative we concluded was glucose. Using the same tests instead of the Seliwanoff's test, we tested different foods to find out what type of carbohydrates are in them. At the end of the experiment we concluded that chocolate has monosaccharides, honey has disaccharides and both bread crumbs and milk are also monosaccharides.
Reflection
Usually daily I don't pay attention to what I eat. I never really though about it. If I want a fruit then I'll eat a fruit or if I want a bag of chips then I eat a bag of chips. I don't look at the labels on the back or follow the serving size. I eat as I like. Now knowing more about carbohydrates and the effects that they have on my body then I will be more cautious of what I am consuming to ensure that I will keep my body as healthy as I can. I will keep my fitness level the same because I believe that I exercise a good amount every week.