What functional groups are in carbohydrates?

1 Answer
Biology_geek
Mar 15, 2014

The hydroxyl (-OH) group is found in carbohydrates.

Most carbohydrates have the basic formula #C_m(H_2O)_n#, where m may be different from n. Each carbon needs to form four bonds; most will join to both a lone hydrogen atom and a hydroxyl group (-OH).

It's this hydroxyl group that gives carbohydrates their polar, hydrophilic nature - and allows them to bond together through the process of dehydration synthesis to form disaccharides and polysaccharides.

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