Biology SL
Biology SL
4
Chapters
553
Notes
Theme A - Unity & Diversity
Theme A - Unity & Diversity
Theme B - Form & Function
Theme B - Form & Function
Theme C - Interaction &  Interdependence
Theme C - Interaction & Interdependence
Theme D - Continuity & Change
Theme D - Continuity & Change
IB Resources
Theme B - Form & Function
Biology SL
Biology SL

Theme B - Form & Function

Unlocking Monosaccharides Power & Impact

Word Count Emoji
424 words
Reading Time Emoji
3 mins read
Updated at Emoji
Last edited on 14th Jun 2024

Table of content

What's a monosaccharide? 🤔

  • Think of monosaccharides as the single 'building blocks' of carbohydrates. These little guys have between 3 and 7 carbon atoms.
  • Pentoses = 5 carbon sugars 🖐
  • Hexoses = 6 carbon sugars 🖐👆

Real World Example 🌍: When you build a LEGO castle, each tiny LEGO brick is like a monosaccharide. Put a bunch of them together, and you get a bigger structure!

The shape game - straight or curved? 📏🌀

  • Monosaccharides can show off in two ways
    • Straight-chain form 📏
    • Ring form 🌀 (with an oxygen atom and 4 or 5 carbon atoms in the ring)
  • For these sugars to combine and form bigger sugars (like disaccharides and polysaccharides), they need to be in the ring form!

Real World Example 🌍: Think of the ring form like a handshake. Two people (monosaccharides) need to shake hands (ring form) to collaborate (form bigger sugars).

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IB Resources
Theme B - Form & Function
Biology SL
Biology SL

Theme B - Form & Function

Unlocking Monosaccharides Power & Impact

Word Count Emoji
424 words
Reading Time Emoji
3 mins read
Updated at Emoji
Last edited on 14th Jun 2024

Table of content

What's a monosaccharide? 🤔

  • Think of monosaccharides as the single 'building blocks' of carbohydrates. These little guys have between 3 and 7 carbon atoms.
  • Pentoses = 5 carbon sugars 🖐
  • Hexoses = 6 carbon sugars 🖐👆

Real World Example 🌍: When you build a LEGO castle, each tiny LEGO brick is like a monosaccharide. Put a bunch of them together, and you get a bigger structure!

The shape game - straight or curved? 📏🌀

  • Monosaccharides can show off in two ways
    • Straight-chain form 📏
    • Ring form 🌀 (with an oxygen atom and 4 or 5 carbon atoms in the ring)
  • For these sugars to combine and form bigger sugars (like disaccharides and polysaccharides), they need to be in the ring form!

Real World Example 🌍: Think of the ring form like a handshake. Two people (monosaccharides) need to shake hands (ring form) to collaborate (form bigger sugars).

Unlock the Full Content! File Is Locked Emoji

Dive deeper and gain exclusive access to premium files of Biology SL. Subscribe now and get closer to that 45 🌟