Saccharides
Types
Monosaccharides and disaccharides are sweet, water soluble, and crystalline.
- Monosaccharides are carbohydrates in the form of simple sugars.
- Examples of monosaccharides include the hexoses (glucose, fructose, and galactose) and pentoses (ribose, deoxyribose).
- Disaccharides are formed from two monosaccharides joined together.
- Examples of disaccharides include sucrose, maltose, and lactose.
Polysaccharides are polymerized monosaccharides, complex unsweet carbohydrates.
- Polysaccharides are, generally, large and often have a complex, branched, connectivity. They are insoluble in water and do not form crystals.
- Examples include starch, cellulose, and glycogen.
- Shorter polysaccharides, with 2-15 monomers, are sometimes known as oligosaccharides.
Types
monosaccharides
disaccharides
oligosaccharides
polysaccharides
Features
complex carbohydrates