Carbohydrates can be categorized into several groups based on their structure and complexity. Here are the main groups of carbohydrates along with examples for each:
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Monosaccharides: These are the simplest form of carbohydrates, consisting of single sugar molecules.
- Example: Glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆)
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Disaccharides: These are composed of two monosaccharide units linked together.
- Example: Sucrose (table sugar), which is made up of glucose and fructose.
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Oligosaccharides: These carbohydrates consist of 3 to 10 monosaccharide units.
- Example: Raffinose, which is composed of three sugars: galactose, glucose, and fructose.
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Polysaccharides: These are large, complex carbohydrates that consist of long chains of monosaccharide units.
- Example: Starch, which is a storage form of energy in plants, composed of numerous glucose units.
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Structural Carbohydrates: These include carbohydrates that provide structural support in organisms.
- Example: Cellulose, which is found in the cell walls of plants and is composed of unbranched chains of glucose units.
These groups highlight the diversity of carbohydrates in terms of structure and function in biological systems.