monosaccharides consist of a single sugar molecule. which of the following are monosaccharides?
Monosaccharides are single‑unit (simple) sugars such as glucose , fructose , galactose , ribose , and xylose.
What counts as a monosaccharide?
A monosaccharide is:
- One sugar unit that cannot be hydrolyzed to a simpler sugar.
- Generally fitting the formula Cn(H2O)n\text{C}_n(\text{H}_2\text{O})_nCn(H2O)n for many common examples (like glucose: C₆H₁₂O₆).
- Typically water‑soluble, sweet, and serving as a primary energy source in cells.
Common examples
Common biologically important monosaccharides include:
- Glucose (blood sugar)
- Fructose (fruit sugar)
- Galactose
- Ribose (in RNA)
- Deoxyribose (in DNA)
- Mannose
- Xylose and arabinose
If your original question listed options such as “glucose, fructose, sucrose, starch,” then:
- Glucose → monosaccharide
- Fructose → monosaccharide
- Sucrose → disaccharide (glucose + fructose), not a monosaccharide
- Starch → polysaccharide, not a monosaccharide
Mini recap (for exams)
When asked “which of the following are monosaccharides?”:
- Pick single‑word simple sugars like glucose, fructose, galactose, ribose, mannose.
- Exclude disaccharides (sucrose, lactose, maltose) and polysaccharides (starch, glycogen, cellulose).
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