Which term describes glucose, fructose, and galactose collectively?

Which term describes glucose, fructose, and galactose collectively?

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

Answer: (A)

These substances are simple sugar units, the smallest building blocks of carbohydrates. Glucose, fructose, and galactose each consist of a single sugar molecule, so they are called monosaccharides. They’re the forms that can be used directly for energy or further combined to make more complex carbohydrates. Disaccharides are made of two sugar units, polysaccharides contain many units, and oligosaccharides have a few to several units. That single-unit nature is what makes monosaccharides the correct term.

These substances are simple sugar units, the smallest building blocks of carbohydrates. Glucose, fructose, and galactose each consist of a single sugar molecule, so they are called monosaccharides. They’re the forms that can be used directly for energy or further combined to make more complex carbohydrates. Disaccharides are made of two sugar units, polysaccharides contain many units, and oligosaccharides have a few to several units. That single-unit nature is what makes monosaccharides the correct term.