Saccharide

Definition

A saccharide is a basic unit of carbohydrate, consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms in specific ratios. They are classified by their size into monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides.

Related terms

Monosaccharide:

The simplest form of carbohydrates that cannot be hydrolyzed into smaller carbohydrates, such as glucose and fructose.

Disaccharide:

A carbohydrate made up of two monosaccharides joined together through glycosidic linkage; examples include sucrose and lactose.

Polysaccharide:

Complex carbohydrates composed of long chains of monosaccharide units bonded together, like starch and cellulose, serving as energy storage or structural components in plants and animals.