What term refers to carbohydrates made up of one basic sugar unit?

What term refers to carbohydrates made up of one basic sugar unit?

• A. Monosaccharides
• B. Disaccharides
• C. Polysaccharides
• D. Oligosaccharides

Answer: (A)

Monosaccharides are the simplest carbohydrates, made of a single sugar unit. They can’t be broken down into smaller sugars, which is why they serve as the basic building blocks for all other carbohydrates. Examples include glucose, fructose, and galactose. When two of these units join, you get disaccharides (like sucrose or lactose). When many units link together, you form polysaccharides (such as starch or cellulose). A small number of units (three to ten) forms oligosaccharides. So the term for carbohydrates made up of one basic sugar unit is monosaccharides.

Monosaccharides are the simplest carbohydrates, made of a single sugar unit. They can’t be broken down into smaller sugars, which is why they serve as the basic building blocks for all other carbohydrates. Examples include glucose, fructose, and galactose. When two of these units join, you get disaccharides (like sucrose or lactose). When many units link together, you form polysaccharides (such as starch or cellulose). A small number of units (three to ten) forms oligosaccharides. So the term for carbohydrates made up of one basic sugar unit is monosaccharides.