Dehydration Synthesis Vocab

Monosaccharide

the simplest type of carbohydrate. Examples of monosaccharides include glucose and fructose.

Carbohydrate

an organic molecule made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Carbohydrates are the main energy source for most types of cells. Carbohydrates are initially formed by plants through the processes of photosynthesis and dehydration synthesis. Foods rich in carbohydrates include grains, fruits, and sugars.

Valence

the number of chemical bonds an element is capable of forming. The valence of an element is equal to the number of electrons that an atom of that element gains, loses, or shares while forming chemical bonds.

Chemical formula

a symbolic representation of an element or compound. Chemical formulas use subscripts and parentheses to denote the number of atoms in a molecule of the substance. Examples of chemical formulas include NaCl (table salt), H2O (water), and Ca(OH)2 (calcium hydroxide).

Polysaccharide

a carbohydrate made of three or more monosaccharides. Examples of polysaccharides include starch and cellulose.

Disaccharide

a carbohydrate made of two monosaccharides. Examples of disaccharides include maltose (two glucose molecules) and sucrose (one glucose molecule and one fructose molecule).

Hydrolysis

a chemical reaction in which the interaction of water and a compound result in the breaking up of that compound. Your digestive system breaks down starches through hydrolysis.

Dehydration synthesis

a chemical reaction in which two or more molecules bond by losing one or more water molecules. Plants build starches through dehydration synthesis.

Glucose

a monosaccharide with the chemical formula C6H12O6. Glucose is the primary molecule used during cellular respiration reactions.