Monosaccharide Types and Examples

Monosaccharides are the simplest carbohydrates and serve as building blocks for more complex sugars. Understanding the different types of monosaccharides and their examples is fundamental in biochemistry. They are classified based on the number of carbon atoms and the presence of an aldehyde or ketone group. Common examples include hexoses like glucose, fructose, and galactose, which have six carbon atoms. Pentoses, such as ribose and deoxyribose with five carbon atoms, are essential components of nucleic acids.