Biomedical importance- The study of carbohydrates is necessary because they have many important functions in our body. Some examples are as follows:Carbohydrates are major dietary components, which meet 60-70% of our energy requirement. These are starch, sucrose, lactose, etc.Carbohydrates are important constituents of glycoproteins and proteoglycans in cells, tissues and organs. Carbohydrates are used to synthesize many compounds like fats, amino acids, etc. Studying the composition of carbohydrates requires the study of the chemical nature and structure of carbohydrates commonly used. "Carbohydrates are aldehyde or ketone derivatives of polyhydroxy alcohols." The simplest carbohydrates known in nature have 3-carbon atoms and are found both as aldehydes (aldose) and ketones (ketose). Depending on the number of carbon atoms, carbohydrates are called triose, tetrose, pentose, hexose, heptose, etc. having 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 carbon atoms respectively. However, each can exist both as an aldehyde derivative i.e. aldose, and as a ketone derivative i.e. ketose Carbohydrates are commonly referred to as 'sugars' as many of them are sweet in taste such as sucrose, glucose, etc. But all carbohydrates are not sweet in taste, e.g. starch, cellulose etc. functions- 1. They are the most abundant dietary source of energy (4 Cal/g) for all organisms. 2. Carbohydrates are precursors for many organic compounds (fats, amino acids). 3. Carbohydrates (as glycoproteins and glycolipids) participate in the structure of cell membrane and cellular functions such as cell growth, adhesion and fertilization. 4. They are structural components of many organisms. These include the fiber (cellulose) of plants, exoskeleton of some insects and the cell wall of microorganisms. 5. Carbohydrates also serve as the storage form of energy (glycogen) to meet the immediate energy demands of the body.

3.  The study of carbohydrates is necessary because they
have many important functions in our body.
 Some examples are as follows:Carbohydrates are major
dietary components, which meet 60-70% of our energy
requirement.
 These are starch, sucrose, lactose, etc.Carbohydrates
are important constituents of glycoproteins and
proteoglycans in cells, tissues and organs.
 Carbohydrates are used to synthesize many
compounds like fats, amino acids, etc.
 Studying the composition of carbohydrates requires
the study of the chemical nature and structure of
carbohydrates commonly used.

4.  "Carbohydrates are aldehyde or ketone derivatives
of polyhydroxy alcohols."
 The simplest carbohydrates known in nature have
3-carbon atoms and are found both as aldehydes
(aldose) and ketones (ketose).
 Depending on the number of carbon atoms,
carbohydrates are called triose, tetrose, pentose,
hexose, heptose, etc. having 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 carbon
atoms respectively.
 However, each can exist both as an aldehyde
derivative i.e. aldose, and as a ketone derivative
i.e. ketose

5.  Carbohydrates are commonly referred to as
'sugars' as many of them are sweet in taste such
as sucrose, glucose, etc. But all carbohydrates
are not sweet in taste, e.g. starch, cellulose etc.

7. 1. They are the most abundant dietary source of energy (4
Cal/g) for all organisms.
2. Carbohydrates are precursors for many organic
compounds (fats, amino acids).
3. Carbohydrates (as glycoproteins and glycolipids)
participate in the structure of cell membrane and cellular
functions such as cell growth, adhesion and fertilization.
4. They are structural components of many organisms. These
include the fiber (cellulose) of plants, exoskeleton of some
insects and the cell wall of microorganisms.
5. Carbohydrates also serve as the storage form of energy
(glycogen) to meet the immediate energy demands of the
body.