• Sugars can be classified as reducing or non-reducing; this classification is dependent on their ability to donate electrons
• Reducing sugars?can?donate electrons (the carbonyl group becomes?oxidised), the sugars become the?reducing agent
  • Thus reducing sugars can be detected using Benedict’s test as they reduce the soluble copper sulphate to insoluble brick-red copper oxide

   

• ?Examples of reducing sugars include:?glucose, fructose and galactose
  • Fructose and galactose have the same molecular formula as glucose however they have a different structural formula
  • The different arrangement of atoms in these monosaccharides gives them slightly different properties

   

• Non-reducing sugars?cannot?donate electrons, therefore they cannot be oxidised
  • To be detected non-reducing sugars must first be hydrolysed to break the disaccharide into its two monosaccharides before a Benedict’s test can be carried out
  • Example:?sucrose

   

The mnemonic to remember the definitions for oxidation and reduction

• There are different types of monosaccharide formed from molecules with varying numbers of carbon atoms, for example:
  • Trioses (3C) eg. glyceraldehyde
  • Pentoses (5C) eg. ribose
  • Hexoses (6C) eg. glucose

   

• The most well-known carbohydrate?monomer?is?glucose
• Glucose has the molecular formula?C6H12O6
• Glucose is the most common?monosaccharide?and is of central importance to most forms of life
  • The main function of glucose is as an energy source
  • It is the main substrate used in respiration, releasing energy for the production of?ATP
  • Glucose is soluble and so can be transported in water

   

• Glucose exists in two structurally different forms –?alpha (α)?glucose?and?beta?(β) glucose?and is therefore known as an?isomer
  • This structural variety results in different functions between carbohydrates

   

Straight chain and ring structural formula of alpha & beta glucose

• Different?polysaccharides?are formed from the two isomers of glucose

Structure of Polysaccharides Table

Ribose and Deoxyribose

• Sugars that contain?five?carbon molecules are described as?pentose sugars
• Ribose and deoxyribose are important pentose sugars found in the nucleotides that make up RNA and DNA
• Ribose and deoxyribose are very similar in terms of structure
  • Deoxyribose has lost one oxygen atom at carbon number 2

   

The structural formula of ribose and deoxyribose