Monosaccharide
The simplest carbohydrate, which cannot be hydrolysed into smaller sugar units.
Formula / equation
(CH₂O)ₙ
Unit
Dimensionless
In depth
Monosaccharides are classified by carbon count and by whether they contain an aldehyde or ketone group. In solution they exist mainly as five- or six-membered rings formed by an internal reaction between the carbonyl and a hydroxyl group, giving alpha and beta anomers.
Examples in the real world
Glucose and galactose as aldohexoses, fructose as a ketohexose, and ribose as a pentose.