hiilihydraattiketjun

Hiilihydraattiketju is a Finnish term referring to a carbohydrate chain. Carbohydrates are organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms, usually with a hydrogen–oxygen atom ratio of 2:1, as in water. The general formula for carbohydrates is Cm(H2O)n.

Carbohydrate chains can vary significantly in length. Simple carbohydrates, or monosaccharides, consist of a single sugar unit, such as glucose or fructose. Disaccharides are formed when two monosaccharides are joined together, like sucrose (table sugar) or lactose (milk sugar). Polysaccharides are long chains made up of many monosaccharide units linked together. Examples of polysaccharides include starch, glycogen, and cellulose.

The structure and length of a carbohydrate chain determine its properties and function. For instance, cellulose forms the structural component of plant cell walls, while starch serves as an energy storage molecule in plants. In animals, glycogen is the primary form of stored glucose. The digestion of carbohydrates involves breaking down these chains into smaller units that can be absorbed and utilized by the body for energy. The term "hiilihydraattiketju" encompasses all these variations, from the shortest to the longest carbohydrate structures.