Answer the question on the basis of passage given below:

Living systems are made up of various complex biomolecules like carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, lipids etc. Proteins and carbohydrates are essential constituents of our food. Carbohydrates are primarily produced by plants and form a very large group of naturally occurring organic compounds. SOme common examples are cane sugar, glucose, starch etc.

Carbohydrates are also known as saccharides because

it means sugar in Greek

The correct answer is option 3. it means sugar in Greek.

The term "saccharide" comes from the Greek word "σάκχαρον" (sákcharon), which translates to "sugar." The word has been adopted in the scientific nomenclature to refer to carbohydrates due to their chemical relationship to sugars. Ancient Greeks were familiar with substances that tasted sweet, particularly honey and certain fruits. The word "sákcharon" was used to describe these sweet substances, which later influenced the naming of carbohydrates.

Classification of Carbohydrates as Saccharides

Carbohydrates are broadly classified based on the number of sugar units (saccharide units) they contain:

Monosaccharides: These are the simplest carbohydrates, consisting of a single sugar unit. Examples include glucose, fructose, and galactose. The word "monosaccharide" is derived from "mono-" (meaning one) and "saccharide" (meaning sugar), thus indicating a single sugar molecule.

Disaccharides: These are carbohydrates composed of two monosaccharide units linked together. Examples include sucrose (table sugar), lactose (milk sugar), and maltose. The prefix "di-" means two, indicating that these molecules contain two sugar units.

Oligosaccharides: These are carbohydrates made up of a small number (typically 3-10) of monosaccharide units. They play various roles in the body, including cell recognition and signaling.

Polysaccharides: These are complex carbohydrates consisting of many monosaccharide units bonded together in long chains. Examples include starch, glycogen, and cellulose. The prefix "poly-" means many, referring to the multiple sugar units in these molecules.

While many simple carbohydrates (like monosaccharides and disaccharides) are sweet to taste, not all carbohydrates are sweet. For example:

Monosaccharides like glucose and fructose are known for their sweetness.

Disaccharides like sucrose (common table sugar) are also sweet.

Polysaccharides such as starch and cellulose are not sweet and serve as structural components or storage forms of energy in plants and animals.

Therefore, sweetness is not a defining characteristic of all carbohydrates, but it is common among the simpler saccharides.

Carbohydrates are called saccharides because of their chemical structure and the historical context of the term:

Chemical Structure: Carbohydrates consist of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, typically in the ratio of \( C_n(H_2O)_n \). The basic building block of carbohydrates is the monosaccharide unit, which can combine to form larger carbohydrates.

Historical Naming: The historical association with "sugar" due to the Greek word "sákcharon" is why these compounds were named saccharides. Even complex carbohydrates, which may not taste sweet, still retain the name because of their fundamental chemical relationship to sugars.

Conclusion:

The term "saccharide" reflects the historical and linguistic origin of the word in Greek, where it meant "sugar." This naming convention extends to all carbohydrates, regardless of their sweetness or complexity, because they are all chemically related to sugars. Therefore, the correct reason why carbohydrates are known as saccharides is because the term means "sugar" in Greek, which corresponds to option 3.