Which molecules are glucose, fructose, and galactose classified as?

Which molecules are glucose, fructose, and galactose classified as?

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

Answer: (A)

Glucose, fructose, and galactose are single-sugar molecules. That makes them monosaccharides—the simplest form of carbohydrates and the building blocks for more complex sugars. When two monosaccharides join, you get a disaccharide like sucrose or lactose; when many units bond together, you get polysaccharides such as starch or cellulose. Oligosaccharides are short chains of a few sugars but not a single unit. Because these three are each just one sugar unit, they’re classified as monosaccharides.

Glucose, fructose, and galactose are single-sugar molecules. That makes them monosaccharides—the simplest form of carbohydrates and the building blocks for more complex sugars. When two monosaccharides join, you get a disaccharide like sucrose or lactose; when many units bond together, you get polysaccharides such as starch or cellulose. Oligosaccharides are short chains of a few sugars but not a single unit. Because these three are each just one sugar unit, they’re classified as monosaccharides.