monosaccharide
monosaccharide
Parent monosaccharides are polyhydroxy aldehydes H[CH(OH)]<small><sub><em>n</em></sub></small>C(=O)H or polyhydroxy ketones H‒[CHOH]<small><sub><em>n</em></sub></small>‒C(=O)[CHOH]<small><sub><em>m</em></sub></small>‒H with three or more carbon atoms. The generic term 'monosaccharide' (as opposed to oligosaccharide or polysaccharide) denotes a single unit, without glycosidic connection to other such units. It includes aldoses, dialdoses, aldoketoses, ketoses and diketoses, as well as deoxy sugars, provided that the parent compound has a (potential) carbonyl group.