monosaccharide

views updated Jun 08 2018

monosaccharide (simple sugar) A carbohydrate that cannot be split into smaller units by the action of dilute acids. Monosaccharides are classified according to the number of carbon atoms they possess: trioses have three carbon atoms; tetroses, four; pentoses, five; hexoses, six; etc. Each of these is further divided into aldoses and ketoses, depending on whether the molecule contains an aldehyde group (–CHO) or a ketone group (–CO–). For example glucose, having six carbon atoms and an aldehyde group, is an aldohexose whereas fructose is a ketohexose. These aldehyde and ketone groups confer reducing properties on monosaccharides: they can be oxidized to yield sugar acids. They also react with phosphoric acid to produce phosphate esters (e.g. in ATP), which are important in cell metabolism. Monosaccharides can exist as either straight-chain or ring-shaped molecules (see illustration). They also exhibit optical activity, giving rise to both dextrorotatory and laevorotatory forms.

monosaccharides

views updated May 29 2018

monosaccharides Group name of the simplest sugars, including those composed of three carbon atoms (trioses), four (tetroses), five (pentoses), six (hexoses), and seven (heptoses). The units from which disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides are formed.

monosaccharide

views updated Jun 11 2018

mon·o·sac·cha·ride / ˌmänəˈsakəˌrīd/ • n. Chem. any of the class of sugars (e.g., glucose) that cannot be hydrolyzed to give a simpler sugar.

hexoses

views updated May 21 2018

hexoses Six‐carbon (monosaccharide) sugars such as glucose or fructose.

pentoses

views updated May 23 2018

pentoses Monosaccharide sugars with five carbon atoms. The most important is ribose.

monosaccharide

views updated May 11 2018

monosaccharide (mon-oh-sak-ă-ryd) n. a simple sugar having the general formula (CH2O)n. The most abundant monosaccharide is glucose.