Final answer:
Glucose is an example of a simple carbohydrate, offering a quick source of energy, while starch is a complex carbohydrate that provides sustained energy as it's made of many glucose units.
Step-by-step explanation:
Carbohydrates can indeed be categorized as simple or complex. An example of a simple carbohydrate would be glucose, which is found in various plant sources and acts as a primary energy source for living organisms. A common example of a complex carbohydrate is starch, which is a polysaccharide found in plants, particularly in vegetables and grains. Starch consists of thousands of glucose units bonded together and serves as a major energy storage molecule for plants.
Simple carbohydrates, like glucose and fructose, are known as monosaccharides and have one sugar unit. Complex carbohydrates, or polysaccharides, like starch, are made up of multiple monosaccharide units linked together. They have vital roles in energy storage and structural support in various forms of life. Starch, specifically, is a key dietary source of energy for humans and is found in common foods such as pasta, bread, and potatoes.