Question

What is the simplest monosaccharides?

Answer 1

Monosaccharides:

1. These are simple sugar that cannot be further hydrolyzed into simpler forms.
2. These are the simplest carbohydrates that contain free aldehyde ($-\mathrm{CHO}$) and ketone ($>\mathrm{C}=\mathrm{O}$) groups with two or more hydroxyl groups with a general formula of ${\mathrm{C}}_{\mathrm{n}}{\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\right)}_{\mathrm{n}}$.
3. These are present in plants and animals in the form of Glucose, Fructose, and Lactose.

Simple form:

1. The simplest form of monosaccharides is triose.
2. Triose contains three carbon atoms in the structure.
3. The structure of triose in the form of aldose (D-Glyceraldehyde) and ketose (Dihydroxyacetone) is shown below: