Final answer:
Carbohydrates, encompassing monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides, serve crucial biological roles and can transform through processes like dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Carbohydrates play a crucial role in cells and in the extracellular materials of animals and plants. These biomolecules serve as primary energy sources and structural components. Monosaccharides are the simplest form of carbohydrates and cannot be hydrolyzed to produce a smaller carbohydrate molecule. Examples include glucose and fructose, which are vital energy sources for living organisms.
When two monosaccharides undergo dehydration synthesis, a disaccharide is formed. This process involves the removal of water to form a new bond. Conversely, hydrolysis is a reaction where water is used to break the bond between monosaccharides. Each monosaccharide unit in a disaccharide is held together by glycosidic bonds.
Polysaccharides, on the other hand, are large and complex carbohydrates that can consist of hundreds to thousands of monosaccharide units. They can serve various functions such as energy storage or providing structural support. The chemical formula for most sugars can be represented as Cm(H2O)n, highlighting the components of carbon and water. A valence shell is the outermost shell of an atom in a molecule that can participate in the formation of chemical bonds.