Which of the following is NOT a monosaccharide?

Sucrose is not a monosaccharide; it is a disaccharide. Monosaccharides are the simplest form of carbohydrates, consisting of single sugar molecules that cannot be hydrolyzed into simpler sugars. Examples of monosaccharides include glucose, fructose, and galactose, all of which contain a single sugar unit.

In contrast, sucrose is made up of two monosaccharides: glucose and fructose. This combination allows it to serve as a more complex sugar that the body must break down into its two simpler components before it can be utilized for energy. Understanding these distinctions is essential for recognizing the roles different types of carbohydrates play in nutrition and metabolism.