Monosaccharide

Monosaccharides are the simplest form of carbohydrate. They form the basis of larger, more complex molecules such as disaccharides and oligosaccharides which are formed in a dehydration reaction between two monosaccharides. Examples of monosaccharides include glucose and galactose, and all share the generic formula Cx(H2O)y. They are classfied by the type of carbomyl group they contain, being either a ketose (ketone group) or aldose (aldehyde group).