Definition: Carbohydrates are water-soluble molecules with the basic formula C6H12O6 for glucose.

Vocabulary: Monosaccharides are single sugar units, while polysaccharides are long chains of sugar molecules.

Example: Common monosaccharides include glucose (found in plants), fructose (in fruits), and galactose (in milk).

Highlight: Carbohydrates serve multiple functions including energy storage (as glycogen in animals and starch in plants) and structural support (as cellulose in plant cell walls).

Definition: Macromolecules are large, complex molecules formed through the joining of smaller molecular units.

Vocabulary: Dehydration synthesis (also called condensation reaction) joins two smaller molecules to form one larger molecule, producing water as a byproduct.

Example: The formation of maltose from two glucose molecules through dehydration synthesis demonstrates how larger molecules are built.

Highlight: Hydrolysis breaks down large molecules into smaller ones by adding water molecules, essentially reversing dehydration synthesis.