Much of the hydrogen and oxygen are linked as water. Carbon can form four covalent bonds with other atoms to form organic molecules of several configurations. The orientations of the atoms attached to a carbon backbone give rise to the three-dimensional shapes and functions of biological molecules. C. Functional Groups 1. Carbohydrates A. A carbohydrate is a simple sugar or a larger molecule composed of sugar units.
Carbohydrates are the most abundant biological molecules.
Carbohydrates have structural roles and serve as forms of transportable and stored energy. The Simple Sugars 1. A monosaccharide, one sugar unit, is the simplest carbohydrate. Simple sugars are soluble in water and may be sweet-tasting. C. Short-Chain Carbohydrates 1.