Monosaccharides are simple sugars that cannot be broken down further with hydrolysis. They have general formula CnH2nOn where n ranges from 3 to 8. Oligosaccharides are composed of 2 to 10 monosaccharide units joined together. Polysaccharides are composed of more than 10 monosaccharide units joined together. Upon hydrolysis, oligosaccharides break down into their component monosaccharides, while polysaccharides break down into a large number of monosaccharide units. Common examples of oligosaccharides include sucrose, lactose, and maltose, while examples of polysaccharides include starch and cellulose.

3. Monosaccharide
(Simple sugar)
Oligo
saccharides
Poly
saccharides

4.  Mono = one, Saccharides = sugar
 Single unit polyhydroxyaldehydes or
polyhydroxyketones
 General formula: CnH2nOn
 It cannot be broken upon hydrolysis
C6H12O6
Glucose/ Fructose
H2O H+
No Reaction

5. Where n varies from thee to eight:
n Formula Name Aldehyde Ketones
3 C3H6O3 Trioses Aldotrioses Ketotrioses
4 C4H8O4 Tetroses Aldotetroses Ketotetroses
5 C5H10O5 Pentoses Aldopentoses Ketopentoses
6 C6H12O6 Hexoses Aldohexoses Ketohexoses
7 C7H14O7 Heptoses Aldoheptoses Ketoheptoses
8 C8H16O8 Octoses Aldooctoses Ketooctoses

6.  On acid hydrolysis give two to ten units of simple
sugar
 Two monosaccharide units called Disaccharides
 Three monosaccharide units called Trisaccharides
C12H22O11
Sucrose
H2O H+
C6H12O6 + C6H12O6
Glucose Fructose

7. Lactose H2O/H+
C6H12O6 + C6H12O6
Glucose Fructose
Maltose H2O/H+ 2 Glucose units
Raffinose H2O/H+
C6H12O6 + C6H12O6 + C6H12O6
Glucose Galactose Fructose

8.  More than ten monosaccharide
 Upon hydrolysis give large no. of simple sugar
(C12H22O11)n
Starch/ Cellulose
H2O/H+
nC6H12O6
Glucose