Group 1 carbohydrates are which type?

• A. Neutral polysaccharides
• B. Glycoproteins
• C. Lipids
• D. Nucleic acids

Answer: (A)

Group 1 carbohydrates are neutral polysaccharides—long chains of sugars that lack charged groups such as carboxyl or sulfate groups. Because they don’t carry a charge, they behave as nonionic carbohydrates in many tests and are typically stained by general carbohydrate stains. Examples include glycogen and other simple neutral polysaccharides. The other options describe molecules that aren’t neutral polysaccharide chains: glycoproteins are proteins with carbohydrate attachments; lipids are not polysaccharides; nucleic acids are sugar–phosphate polymers with a different backbone. Therefore, Group 1 carbohydrates are neutral polysaccharides.