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Synthesis of Carbohydrates
- Photosynthesis |
Carbs in Food |
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Information About Carbs - Carbohydrate Science - Benefits of Carbs |
Synthesis of CarbohydratesWhat Are Carbohydrates? - Complex Carbohydrates - Monosaccharides - Oligosaccharides - Polysaccharides - Sugars Carbohydrates (comprising carbon and water) are sugar compounds which are manufactured or "synthesized" by green plants (and other organisms) when exposed to light. This carbohydrate manufacturing process is called photosynthesis after the Latin words "photo" meaning light and "synthesis" meaning putting together. Photosynthesis - How Light is Converted Into CarbohydratePhotosynthesis is the chemical process by which green plants transform light energy into chemical energy. It harnesses the energy of sunlight to convert carbon dioxide, water and minerals into organic compounds and oxygen. Photosynthesis is not only performed by plants. Other photosynthetic organisms include protists (eg. euglenoids and diatoms), cyanophytes (type of algae) and certain bacteria. The photosynthetic process differs slightly in non-plant instances, although nearly all photosynthetic organisms possess the light-absorbing pigment chlorophyll, which controls the transfer of energy from light to chemical compounds. Photosynthesis is actually a series of concurrent photochemical and enzymatic processes performed (in green plants) inside the chloroplasts - the cell elements that contain the chlorophyll. The rate of photosynthesis depends upon various factors including: type of plant species involved, its physiological state, light intensity, temperature as well as availability of water, carbon dioxide and certain minerals. In very crude terms, photosynthesis is the process whereby light energy - when applied to water, carbon dioxide and certain minerals - is turned into glucose energy. Living organisms then utilize the glucose to sustain life. In fact, photosynthesis is the fundamental process which maintains life on Earth. Almost all living organisms depend on food which they convert from energy. This energy derives from organic compounds formed inside plants during the photosynthesis process. The main organic products of of plant photosynthesis are carbohydrates. |
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Carbs-Information.com provides general information about different types of carbohydrate, like monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, as well as nutritional value of carbohydrates, carb-content of foods, plus details of GI values of all food groups, plus advice about diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance. But no information is intended as a substitute for medical advice. Copyright 2003-2021. |