Final answer:
Glucose is a kind of sugar that is classified as a carbohydrate. It plays a critical role as a source of energy for cells and is involved in important biological processes like photosynthesis and energy storage.
Step-by-step explanation:
Glucose is a kind of sugar, which means it is a carbohydrate. It is not a nucleic acid, lipid, or protein. A molecule of glucose carries chemical energy that is essential for the uptake by cells, making it a critical fuel for energy production. With the chemical formula C6H12O6, glucose is involved in vital biological processes like photosynthesis and is the primary energy source found in the bloodstream of animals as blood sugar.
As a monosaccharide, it is one of the simplest forms of carbohydrates. Glucose can combine with other sugar molecules to form larger carbohydrates, such as lactose when bonded with galactose, and sucrose when combined with fructose. These carbohydrates serve as energy stores in the form of starch in plants and glycogen in animals, or they are converted into fat in the body when in excess. Glucose is also referred to as dextrose, corn sugar, or blood sugar.