The basic building blocks of carbohydrates are simple sugars, also known as monosaccharides. These are the most fundamental units that can combine to form more complex carbohydrates. The three most common monosaccharides are glucose, fructose, and galactose.
Monosaccharides can link together through glycosidic bonds to create disaccharides, such as sucrose and lactose, or even larger polysaccharides like starch and cellulose. Each of these compounds serves different functions in living organisms, from providing energy to forming structural components of cells. Understanding these basic building blocks is key to grasping how carbohydrates contribute to biological processes.