Question

What is Monosaccharide?

Answer 1

Monosaccharides, also called simple sugars, are the simplest form of sugar and the most basic units of carbohydrates. The general formula is C ₙH ₂ₙO ₙ, or [Cnn] or { CH2O}n albeit not all molecules fitting this formula are carbohydrates. They are usually colorless, water-soluble, and crystalline solids.

Answer 2

A Monosaccharide is just the simplest form of sugar. It's general term applied to a sugar that cannot be broken down into anything 'simpler'. A great example of this is glucose. Glucose cannot be hydrolized to form anything else, but there are more complex forms of glucose like glycogen. Glycogen is basically a bunch of glucose molecules bonded together and used as "stored glucose", but glycogen can be hydrolized to form individual glucose molecules (monosaccharides).