text: how do carbohydrates work in the body? what is the functional groups and bonding patterns? why is it inportant for biology? what are the typical areas of confusion, and how do i better understand these areas? carbohydrates work by participating in the production of energy. there are many kinds of carbohydrates and the most important function is to participate in various oxidation reactions and there by producing atp which are the molecular batteries on which every living form exists. these reactions occur in the presence of molecular oxygen and thats why oxygen is so important for us. additionaly every 1 gram of carbohydrate produces about 4.8 kcals.   apart from energy production carbohydrates are important for many other functions of cell membranes ( glycoproteins and glycolipids)