Glucose is classified as which type of carbohydrate?

Glucose is classified as a monosaccharide because it is the simplest form of carbohydrate. Monosaccharides are single sugar molecules that cannot be hydrolyzed into simpler sugars. They serve as the building blocks for more complex carbohydrates. Glucose specifically consists of six carbon atoms, twelve hydrogen atoms, and six oxygen atoms (C6H12O6) and is a primary energy source for cells in the body.

In contrast, polysaccharides consist of long chains of monosaccharide units linked together, such as starch and glycogen. Disaccharides are composed of two monosaccharide units, like sucrose (glucose + fructose) or lactose (glucose + galactose). Trisaccharides contain three monosaccharide units linked together. Therefore, the classification of glucose as a monosaccharide accurately reflects its structure and function in biological systems.