Can you explain what exactly is the difference between carbohydrate and sugar?
In: Chemistry
Sugar is a carbohydrate, but not every carbobydrate is sugar.
Carbohydrates are a broad category of molecules made from Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen. They include (different) sugars, but also starch and cellulose.
More specifically sugars are carbohydrates with relatively small molecules (monosaccharides and disachharides, but not long polysaccharide chains)
Think of carbohydrates as legos.
Sugars are individual lego pieces or two lego pieces stuck together.
Larger carbohydrates like starch or cellulose are 100s of legos stuck together. The base element is the same, but how many of them are togther varies.
Carbohydrates (starches and celluloses) are naturally occuring polymers of the simple sugars. Btw, proteins are naturally occuring polymers of simple amino acids.
Latest Answers