Carbohydrates are made up of simple sugars known as monosaccharides, which are the monomer building blocks of these larger molecules. Common monosaccharides include glucose, fructose, and galactose.
Monosaccharides can combine through glycosidic bonds to form disaccharides (like sucrose and lactose) and polysaccharides (such as starch and glycogen). These compounds serve various functions in living organisms, including energy storage and structural roles.
Understanding that monosaccharides are the simplest form of carbohydrates helps in grasping how they polymerize to form more complex carbohydrates, essential for numerous biological processes.