Are a group of simple carbohydrates and are a simple form of sugars.

They can not be broken down into smaller carbohydrates.

Is part of a group of other carbohydrates including:

   -    Disaccharides
   -    Polysaccharides
   -    Olgiosaccharides

Monosaccharides are building blocks of large carbohydrates

There are several different types some found in nature and others are synthesized

Chemically they have aldehyde or ketone groups and typically a hydroxyl group (-OH) and a cabonyl group (C=O) added on.

When the sugar has a Aldehyde it is called Aldose
When the sugar has a Ketone it is called Ketose

Can be divided depending on number of carbons:

  -  Triose   -    3 carbon atoms
  -  Tetrose  -    4 carbon atoms
  -  Pentose  -    5 carbon atoms
  -  Hexose   -    6 carbon atoms
  -  Heptose  -    7 carbon atoms
  -  Octose   -     8 carbon atoms
  -  Nonose   -    9 carbon atoms
  -  Decose   -    10 carbon atoms

Types of Monosaccharides

Aldoses:

1.)  Aldotriose:    D-Glyceraldehyde
2.)  Aldotetroses:   D-Erythrose, D-Threose
3.)  Aldopentoses:   D-Ribose, D-Arabinose, D-Xylose, D-Lyxose
4.)  Aldohexoses:  D-Allose, D-Altrose, D-Glucose, D-Mannose, D-Gulose, D-Idose, D-Galactose, and T-Talose

Ketoses:

1.)  Ketotriose:  Dihydroxyacetone
2.)  Ketotetrose:   D-Erythrulose
3.)  Ketopentoses:   D-Ribulose, D-Xylulose
4.)  Ketohexoses:   D-Psicose, D-Fructose, D-Sorbose, D-Tegatose

Some of the more common monosaccharides include:

  -  Glucose
  -  Fructose
  -  Galactose
  -  Ribose

Some common found uses of monosaccharides include:

  -  Vitamin C
  -  Sorbitol
  -  Other sweetening agents
  -  Amino sugars
  -  others