Which sugars are examples of simple carbohydrates?

The sugars that exemplify simple carbohydrates are monosaccharides and disaccharides, which are types of simple sugars.

Glucose, a monosaccharide, is a fundamental energy source for the body and is found in many foods, including fruits and honey. Ribose, also a monosaccharide, is a sugar that is part of the structure of RNA and is crucial for cellular function.

Both of these compounds are classified as simple carbohydrates due to their basic chemical structure and their relatively quick digestibility, which allows for rapid energy release in the body.

In contrast, sucrose and maltose, while they are forms of sugar, fall into the category of disaccharides, making them simple carbohydrates as well but not a suitable answer in the context of monosaccharides. Starch and cellulose are polysaccharides, which are complex carbohydrates, and glycogen is similarly complex, being a form of stored glucose in animals. Lactose is a disaccharide composed of glucose and galactose; while it is also a simple carbohydrate, it doesn’t encompass the broader classification provided by monosaccharides like glucose and ribose. Therefore, the focus on both glucose and ribose accurately highlights the primary examples of simple carbohydrates.