The monosaccharides are joined together by glycosidic bonds. On hydrolysis they generally yield 2 to 9 molecules of monosaccharides which are sugars and include di-, tri-tetrasaccharides etc.

OLIGOSACCHARIDES(GK:oligo=few Sakcharon=sugar) Their general formula is CnH2nOn,where n varies from 3to7.The most important are the pentoses and hexoses.ДҐ. They are the simplest sugars and cannot be hydrolysed into simpler compounds. MONOSACCHARIDES(GK:Mono=one Sakcharon=sugar) If the carbonyl group is an aldehyde,the monosaccharide is an aldose if the carbonyl group is ketone the monosaccharide is a ketose.Monosaccharide with three carbon atoms are called trioses,those with four are called tetroses,five are called pentoses,six are called hexoses.Д¤. Monosaccharides are classified according to three different characteristics: the placement of its carbonyl group,the number of carbon atoms it contains, and its chiral handedness. The naturally occurring carbohydrates may be classified into three main groups,particularly on the basis of their behaviour towards hydrolysis. In addition,they are an important source of energy required for the various metabolic activities of the living organisms the energy being derived as a result of their oxidation. They also occur as food reserves in the storage organs of plants and in liver and muscles of animals. They are indispensable for living organisms,serving as skeletal structures in plants and also in insects and crustaceans. They are widely distributed molecules in both plant and animal tissues. The carbohydrates often termed as Sugars,are the вЂњstaff of lifeвЂќ for most organisms.Д¬arbohydrates are also known as Saccharides(Sakcharon=sugar or sweetness). The names of carbohydrates often end in the suffix-ose. Most of them contain hydrogen and oxygen in the ratio of 2:1.ДЇor that reason, the general empirical formula of carbohydrates is given as n e.g,glucose is (C6H12O6)Д¬arbohydrates may be defined as Polyhydroxy aldehyde or Ketone or substances that yield these on hydrolysis.e.g.glucose is a polyhydroxy aldehyde and fructose is a polyhydroxy ketone. The name Carbohydrates indicates that they are hydrates of Carbon, and contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.

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