Question

Which of the following are examples of monosaccharides?

1: Galactose, sucrose, and glucose
2: Maltose, fructose, and lactose
3: Glucose, fructose, and galactose
4: Lactose, maltose, and sucrose

Answer 1

Lactose, maltose, and sucrose are disaccharides, not monosaccharides. Monosaccharides are simple sugars like glucose, fructose, and galactose, all sharing the chemical formula C6H12O6 but with different structures, making them isomers. They are essential building blocks for complex carbohydrates and are critical in energy metabolism.

Step-by-step explanation:

Lactose, maltose, and sucrose are common disaccharides, not monosaccharides. Disaccharides like lactose are formed from monomers, including glucose and galactose, while sucrose is composed of glucose and fructose. In contrast, monosaccharides are the most basic form of carbohydrates and include glucose, fructose, and galactose.

Each of these monosaccharides shares the chemical formula C6H12O6 and are isomers of one another, meaning they have the same molecular formula but different structural arrangements of atoms. Monosaccharides act as the building blocks for more complex sugars and play crucial roles in energy metabolism.