Final answer:
The term 'polysaccharides' means 'many sugars', referring to carbohydrates that are long chains of monosaccharides. Carbohydrates serve as a major energy source and are fundamental for structural support within organisms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term polysaccharides literally translated means "many sugars."
Polysaccharides are carbohydrates that consist of long chains of monosaccharide units bound together. As one of the primary classes of biomolecules, they are important for energy storage and structural components in organisms. Monosaccharides, or single sugar molecules like glucose, are the simplest form of carbohydrates and act as building blocks for the synthesis of more complex carbohydrates.
Disaccharides, such as sucrose (table sugar), are made up of two monosaccharide molecules. Carbohydrates are vital for life, providing both energy and structural support to cells and tissues.