Monosaccharide

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/monosaccharide

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the chemical structure?Polyhydroxy aldehydes or ketones, often with the formula (CH2O)x
2. What is the classification by carbon count?Triose (3C), Tetrose (4C), Pentose (5C), Hexose (6C), Heptose (7C)
3. Why do we need monosaccharides?They give our bodies energy and are building blocks for DNA, RNA, and other important molecules. Glucose is the main fuel for cells.
4. How do monosaccharides give us energy?Cells break down glucose through glycolysis and the citric acid cycle, producing ATP, the energy currency of cells.

Hydrolysis: The chemical breakdown of a compound due to reaction with water.
Monomer: A molecule that can be bonded to other identical molecules to form a polymer.
Cellular Respiration: The metabolic process that converts biochemical energy from nutrients into ATP.