Question

How do polysaccharides differ structurally and functionally from simple carbohydrates?

Answer 1

Carbohydrates as we know are a very essential part of our balanced diet. Carbohydrates are the major biomolecules that are composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. In the ratio of${C_n}{H_{2n}}{O_n}$. They are the first energy providing biomolecules and certain organisms. They also act as building materials for making cell walls and cell membranes.

Complete answer-
Carbohydrates can be classified into monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides. The monosaccharides are often called simple sugars which possess a free aldehyde. Only one sugar molecule is present in monosaccharides. Examples of sugars are- Glucose, glycose, ribose.
The difference between structurally and functionally polysaccharides and carbohydrates are-

Polysaccharides	Simple carbohydrates
Examples of complex carbohydrates include starch.	Carbohydrates are generally sweet in taste.
Poly means many forms of glucose. Chemically, made up of three or more linked sugars.	Made from only one molecule of sugar.
It can be branched or unbranched.	Composed of only one molecule of glucose. That is why it is known as Monosaccharides.
Example- refined starches like- cakes, bread, pastries.	Simple- glucose, fruits, milk, vegetables.

Starch is a source of carbohydrates which are abundant in food items like- rice, wheat, barley. These cereals have carbohydrates in abundance. Human beings can easily digest these cereals and obtain energy from them. cellulose is the main component in the plant cells which function is to make the plant stiff and upright so that the plant does not lose its firmness.

Note:
Ribose and deoxyribose are pentose sugars used in building of RNA and DNA respectively. In aqueous solutions monosaccharides exist as rings. Monosaccharides with eight or more carbons are observed as they’re quite unstable. Most organisms make energy by splicing down the monosaccharide glucose, and obtaining the energy which is released from the bonds. Other monosaccharides are used to form long fibers.