Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A glycosidic bond is a type of covalent bond that joins a carbohydrate (sugar) molecule to another group, which may or may not be another carbohydrate.
This is the simplest form of carbohydrates. They are the building blocks for more complex carbohydrates, just like how a single Lego block can be used to build bigger structures.
Disaccharide: This is formed when two monosaccharides are joined together by a glycosidic bond, similar to two Lego blocks stuck together with glue.
These are complex carbohydrates made up of many monosaccharides linked together by glycosidic bonds, much like an entire structure built from many glued-together Lego blocks.