classification of carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are classified into four main categories based on their structure:

1. Monosaccharides: These are the simplest form of carbohydrates and cannot be broken down further into smaller units. They consist of a single sugar molecule and include glucose, fructose, and galactose.
2. Disaccharides: These are made up of two monosaccharides joined together through a glycosidic bond. Examples include sucrose (glucose + fructose), lactose (glucose + galactose), and maltose (glucose + glucose).
3. Oligosaccharides: These are made up of 3-10 monosaccharide units joined together. They are commonly found in plant cell walls and some types of bacteria.
4. Polysaccharides: These are made up of more than 10 monosaccharide units joined together. They include starch (found in plants), glycogen (found in animals), and cellulose (found in plant cell walls)