Open main menu

Polysaccharide

Key Stage 3

Meaning

A complex carbohydrate is a large molecule made from simple sugars.

About Complex Carbohydrates

Complex carbohydrates are an essential part of a balanced diet.
Starch is a complex carbohydrate made from glucose which can be digested by humans.
Cellulose is a complex carbohydrate, also known as fibre, that cannot be digested but is part of a balanced diet as it helps the movement of faeces through the intestines.

Key Stage 4

Meaning

A polysaccharide is a large polymer molecule made from simple monomer sugars bonded together.

About Polysaccharides

Polysaccharides are formed in a polymerisation reaction between monosaccharides.

Some polysaccharides you should know are:

Starch

Starch Molecule

Starch is made of hundreds of glucose molecules bonded together.
StarchMolecule.png
A starch molecule made of many smaller glucose molecules.


References

AQA

Polysaccharide, pages 252-3, GCSE Chemistry; Student Book, Collins, AQA
Polysaccharides, pages 172-173, GCSE Chemistry; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA

OCR

Complex carbohydrates, pages 65, 245, Gateway GCSE Chemistry, Oxford, OCR