Question

What are the building blocks of carbohydrates?

Answer 1

The building blocks of carbohydrates are mainly of three types:

Monosaccharides are considered to be simplest building block of carbohydrates and also the basic unit of oligosaccharide and polysaccharide. E.g. glucose, fructose and galactose . It is simplest sugar as no hydrolysis is possible. Used as a source of energy.

Oligosaccharides after hydrolysis gives 2-20 monosaccharides. E.g. sucrose, lactose, maltose

Polysaccharides are made up more than 20 monosaccharides. Used to store energy. E.g. starch and glycogen.