In food, fats are in the form of triglycerides (1 glycerol + 3 fatty acid chains). There are a few types of fatty acids: Saturated , where the fatty acid chain has no double bonds (think of the hydrocarbon chain being saturated with hydrogens. Animal products such as lard, butter, whole milk, eggs and meat [...]
Chapter: Chemistry of Life
Disaccharides
Disaccharides are formed when 2 monosaccharides are linked together by a glycosidic linkage. Maltose used for beer brewing is glucose + glucose. Lactose, found in milk, is glucose + galactose. Sucrose, table sugar, is actually glucose + fructose. Plants (including fruits and vegetables) usually carry carbohydrates from their leaves to other parts in the form [...]
Polysaccharides
Polysaccharides are polymers of sugars, where hundreds or thousands of monosaccharides are joined together by glycosidic linkages. A glycosidic linkage is a covalent bond that is formed between two monosaccharides by a dehydration reaction — the removal of a water molecule (H + OH). Polysaccharides are used for: 1. Storage In plant cells, excess glucose [...]
Glycogen
Glycogen is a polysaccharide consisting of glucose. It is a branched polymer — that means it is not linear/straight but has long chains of glucose coming off the sides of another glucose chain. Animal cells store glucose in the form of glycogen. After eating, glucose levels in the blood increase, causing insulin to be released. [...]
Glucose
Glucose is a simple sugar, a monosaccharide, that has the molecular formula C6 H12 O6. Other forms of monosaccharides are such as fructose and galactose. Glucose is used by our bodies as fuel for energy; they are the major starting points for cellular respiration which produces ATP. When glucose levels in the blood are high, [...]
Amino acids
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. Our bodies need amino acids in order to make new cells and enzymes. Out of the 20 types of amino acids that exist, we can make 10. The other 10 must come from our diet. An amino acid has an amino group (NH2) and a carboxyl group [...]