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Carbohydrates, in their familiar form, include simple sugars and more complex polymers called polysaccharides. Molecularly, they are defined as containing carbon and the components of water, a hydroxyl group, hydrogen and oxygen. Usually in a one-two-one ratio like glucose which has six carbons, twelve hydrogens and six oxygens.

This single sugar molecule is a monosaccharide. Categorized in part by the number of carbons. With six, it's considered a hexose. While another common sugar ribose is called a pentose with five carbon molecules. And depending on the positioning of their carbonyl group they can be further categorized. An aldose like galactose has a carbonyl group at the end of the sugar.

And a ketose such as fructose has a carbonyl group in the middle.

Now a fructose molecule in its ring form as most sugars are in aqueous solutions can combine with a glucose molecule. And via dehydration synthesis, the two monosaccharides form a disaccharide like sucrose the common sweetener, table sugar. Instead, if glucose bonded together with many glucose molecules, different polysaccharides like cellulose or the starch amylose can be formed. Ultimately, simple sugars and polysaccharides serve as energy reserves and structural components of cells.

Instead, if glucose bonded together with many glucose molecules, different polysaccharides like cellulose or the starch amylose can be formed. Ultimately, simple sugars and polysaccharides serve as energy reserves and structural components of cells.