Name: ________________________________________
Period: ______
Date: ______________
Learning about Carbohydrate Structure with Beads Activity:
Monosaccharides, Disaccharides, and Polysaccharides
Part 1: Monosaccharides
Examine your bag of beads.
Your beads represent monosaccharides, simple sugar molecules.
Place your small plates labeled “Glucose”, “Galactose”, and “Fructose” in front of you. Place all white beads
into the Glucose plate, all orange beads into the Galactose plate, and all yellow beads into the Fructose plate.
1. What is the difference between the three groups?
__________________________
2. Except for this difference, are the beads similar?
__________________________
Each monosaccharide has a particular molecular structure. Examine the chart below and fill in the blanks.
Name
Glucose = White Bead
Number of
Carbon atoms
Number of
Hydrogen
atoms
Number of
Oxygen atoms
Molecular
Formula
6
Molecular
Structure
Galactose = Orange Bead
Fructose = Yellow Bead
12
6
C6H12O6
3. Because of their similarities and differences, these structures are called structural isomers. What do they
have in common? What is different about them?
4. Bonds between carbon and carbon atoms store a lot of energy. When broken, they release a lot of energy.
How many carbon-carbon bonds are in each monosaccharide?
________________
©Bethany Lau 2012
1
Part 2: Disaccharides
Two monosaccharides can react together to form a disaccharide.
5. What is the reaction that takes place between 2 smaller biological molecule
to form 1 larger biological molecule?
_________________
6. Draw the reaction below:
Monosaccharide + Monosaccharide  ____________________ + ____________________________
Using the small pipe cleaner pieces, connect beads by placing 2 on a small pipe cleaner in the following
combinations:
White + White
White + Orange
White + Yellow
These pipe cleaners with two beads each represent disaccharides.
Using the structures on the first page, decide which monosaccharides are used to produce the following
disaccharides. The first one is done for you.
Monomer 1
Monomer 2
Disaccharide formed
Looking at the
Sucrose
structure of the
disaccharide,
Glucose is on the left
Fructose is on the right
Lactose
Maltose
Match your bead disaccharides to the name of the disaccharide shown in the chart.
White + White =_____________ White + Orange =_____________ White + Yellow =_____________
©Bethany Lau 2012
2
Polysaccharides
A long polymer made of monosaccharides is called a polysaccharide. Cells connect many monosaccharides
together to store them, saving them for later energy usage. Cells also may string together monosaccharides and
use them as part of their cell walls. Different polysaccharides are formed when monosaccharides are linked in
different ways.
A. Cellulose: Strong molecule used in plant cell walls
Take a long green pipe cleaner and fill it with white beads (white beads which represent _________________).
The bonds between the white beads are represented by the green pipe cleaner. These bonds are very
strong and are indigestible to most animals, including humans.
B. Starch: Sugar storage molecule used in plant cells
Fill a long white pipe cleaner with white beads (white beads which represent ________________________).
The bonds between the white beads are represented by the long white pipe cleaner. These bonds are
relatively weak and can be broken down easily. Animals can break down (or digest) starch molecules into
small monosaccharides that animal cells can use for energy.
C. Glycogen: Sugar storage molecule used in animal cells
Fill a long red pipe cleaner with white beads (which represent __________________________).
Also, fill another red pipe cleaner with white beads and connect the end of the one piece to the middle of the
long piece, creating a branched structure.
Animal cells store glycogen in liver and muscle cells, keeping the monosaccharides in the string for later energy
usage.
©Bethany Lau 2012
3
Name: ___________________________________
Period: ________Date: _________________
Learning about Carbohydrate Structure with Beads Activity - Additional Questions:
7. A rabbit eats a carrot. A carrot is part of a root of a carrot plant and plants often store their extra sugar in
their roots. What polysaccharide is the rabbit eating?
______________________
8. The rabbit has chemicals in its stomach that breaks down the polysaccharide. What reaction is used to
break down a polysaccharide (an example of a polymer)?
______________________
9. Write the reaction needed to remove a glucose molecule from polysaccharide (the original is 100 glucose
molecules long).
___________________ + ___________________  ________________ + __________________________
10. After breaking down all of the plant polysaccharide into glucose molecules and using some to run away from
the neighborhood Chihuahua, the rabbit stores the rest of its sugar molecules in its own polysaccharide.
What polysaccharide do the rabbit’s cells build? ________________________________________________
Where does the rabbit store this polysaccharide? _______________________________________________
Why is it important that the rabbit stores that polysaccharide and why does the location of storage matter?
11. Write the reaction needed to build the rabbit’s polysaccharide from 50 glucose molecules.
___________________ + ___________________  ________________ + __________________________
©Bethany Lau 2012
4
Name: __ANSWERS!!___________________________________ Period: ______ Date: ______________
Learning about Carbohydrate Structure with Beads Activity:
Monosaccharides, Disaccharides, and Polysaccharides
Part 1: Monosaccharides
Examine your bag of beads.
Your beads represent monosaccharides, simple sugar molecules.
Place your small plates labeled “Glucose”, “Galactose”, and “Fructose” in front of you. Place all white beads
into the Glucose plate, all orange beads into the Galactose plate, and all yellow beads into the Fructose plate.
1. What is the difference between the three groups?
_COLOR______________________
2. Except for this difference, are the beads similar?
_SIZE_________________________
Each monosaccharide has a particular molecular structure. Examine the chart below and fill in the blanks.
Name
Glucose = White Bead
Galactose = Orange Bead
Fructose = Yellow Bead
Number of
Carbon atoms
Number of
Hydrogen
atoms
Number of
Oxygen atoms
Molecular
Formula
6
6
6
12
12
12
6
6
6
C6H12O6
C6H12O6
C6H12O6
Molecular
Structure
3. Because of their similarities and differences, these structures are called structural isomers. What do they
have in common? What is different about them?
Same number and type of atoms, different structure/arrangement
4. Bonds between carbon and carbon atoms store a lot of energy. When broken, they release a lot of energy.
How many carbon-carbon bonds are in each monosaccharide?
__5______________
©Bethany Lau 2012
5
Part 2: Disaccharides
Two monosaccharides can react together to form a disaccharide.
5. What is the reaction that takes place between 2 smaller biological molecule
to form 1 larger biological molecule?
_dehydration synthesis________________
6. Draw the reaction below:
Monosaccharide + Monosaccharide  _Disaccharide_______ + ____Water________________________
Using the small pipe cleaner pieces, connect beads by placing 2 on a small pipe cleaner in the following
combinations:
White + White
White + Orange
White + Yellow
These pipe cleaners with two beads each represent disaccharides.
Using the structures on the first page, decide which monosaccharides are used to produce the following
disaccharides. The first one is done for you.
Monomer 1
Monomer 2
Disaccharide formed
Looking at the
Sucrose
structure of the
disaccharide,
Glucose is on the left
Fructose is on the right
Lactose
Galactose
Glucose
Maltose
Glucose
Glucose
Match your bead disaccharides to the name of the disaccharide shown in the chart.
White + White =_Maltose_______ White + Orange =_Lactose______ White + Yellow =_Sucrose_______
©Bethany Lau 2012
6
Polysaccharides
A long polymer made of monosaccharides is called a polysaccharide. Cells connect many monosaccharides
together to store them, saving them for later energy usage. Cells also may string together monosaccharides and
use them as part of their cell walls. Different polysaccharides are formed when monosaccharides are linked in
different ways.
D. Cellulose: Strong molecule used in plant cell walls
Take a long green pipe cleaner and fill it with white beads (white beads which represent _Glucose__________).
The bonds between the white beads are represented by the green pipe cleaner. These bonds are very
strong and are indigestible to most animals, including humans.
E. Starch: Sugar storage molecule used in plant cells
Fill a long white pipe cleaner with white beads (white beads which represent _Glucose__________).
The bonds between the white beads are represented by the long white pipe cleaner. These bonds are
relatively weak and can be broken down easily. Animals can break down (or digest) starch molecules into
small monosaccharides that animal cells can use for energy.
F. Glycogen: Sugar storage molecule used in animal cells
Fill a long red pipe cleaner with white beads (which represent ___Glucose__________).
Also, fill another red pipe cleaner with white beads and connect the end of the one piece to the middle of the
long piece, creating a branched structure.
Animal cells store glycogen in liver and muscle cells, keeping the monosaccharides in the string for later energy
usage.
©Bethany Lau 2012
7
Additional Questions:
7. A rabbit eats a carrot. A carrot is part of a root of a carrot plant and plants often store their extra sugar in
their roots. What polysaccharide is the rabbit eating?
_Starch_________________
8. The rabbit has chemicals in its stomach that breaks down the polysaccharide. What reaction is used to
break down a polysaccharide (an example of a polymer)?
_Hydrolysis____________
9. Write the reaction needed to remove a glucose molecule from polysaccharide (the original is 100 glucose
molecules long).
STARCH (100 glucoses long) + WATER  GLUCOSE + STARCH (99 glucoses long)
10. After breaking down all of the plant polysaccharide into glucose molecules and using some to run away from
the neighborhood Chihuahua, the rabbit stores the rest of its sugar molecules in its own polysaccharide.
a. What polysaccharide do the rabbit’s cells build? __Glycogen____________________________
b. Where does the rabbit store this polysaccharide? _Liver and muscles____________________________
c. Why is it important that the rabbit stores that polysaccharide and why does the location of storage
matter?
(This question may help you assess student former knowledge. You could make it a bonus question. The key is to
get students to think.)
When glycogen is stored in the muscles, it keeps energy molecules close to where they will eventually be
needed. When the rabbit runs for a long period of time, glycogen will be broken down to provide the rabbit with
stamina to keep running from that Chihuahua. This is the same thing that happens when you are a long distance
runner and “carbo-load” (eat lots of pasta) the night before.
11. Write the reaction needed to build the rabbit’s polysaccharide from 50 glucose molecules.
_50 Glucose_______  _Glycogen (50 glucoses long)_______ + _49 water molecules_______
©Bethany Lau 2012
8
Learning about Carbohydrate Structure with Beads Activity:
by Bethany Lau
Teacher’s Instructions
**Before performing this activity, students should have a basic background in
chemistry. Single bonds, simple molecular structure recognition, and an understanding of dehydration
synthesis and hydrolysis reactions are necessary to complete the activity. **
This activity is best performed by small groups of students (2-3). Before class, you will need to collect and
prepare the following materials for each student group, bagged in a larger Ziploc bag for easy pass out and
cleanup:
white beads (approximately 80)
orange beads (approximately 10)
yellow beads (approximately 10)
3 small paper plates, one labeled “Fructose”, one labeled “Glucose”, and one labeled “Galactose”.
3 white, 6 red, and 3 green pipe cleaners, cut in half
2 pipe cleaners (any color will do) cut in quarters.
See the pictures on the next two pages to see the setup and and what the end result should look like!
Depending on the ability of your group, you can be as teacher-led or as student-led as you want with this
activity. With my honors classes, I can usually hand these out and just monitor the room. With my lower level
classes, I might need to lead them through each step. The answer key is included!
The last page of additional questions could be used as a homework assignment to take home.
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TeachersPayTeachers.com and I learn how I can improve or continue to please my customers!
©Bethany Lau 2012
9
©Bethany Lau 2012
10
©Bethany Lau 2012
11
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