simple sugar
Definition
Noun: A simple sugar is a type of carbohydrate that cannot be broken down into smaller, simpler sugar molecules through hydrolysis. It is the most basic unit of carbohydrates. Simple sugars are sweet, water-soluble, and serve as a fundamental source of energy for living organisms.
Usage
The term "simple sugar" is used in nutritional, biochemical, and everyday contexts to refer to the most basic form of sugar molecules. It is often contrasted with complex carbohydrates like starches.
Examples
- Glucose is a simple sugar that circulates in your blood.
- Table sugar, or sucrose, is a disaccharide composed of two simple sugars, glucose and fructose.
- Fruits contain natural simple sugars like fructose.
- In biochemistry, monosaccharides are classified as simple sugars.
Advanced Usage
- In Nutrition: Often discussed in the context of "added sugars" versus naturally occurring sugars, both of which can be sources of simple sugars.
- In Chemistry: The precise term for a simple sugar is a . Disaccharides (like sucrose) are composed of two linked simple sugars and are sometimes included in broader dietary discussions of simple sugars.
Variants and Related Words
- Monosaccharide (n): The formal chemical term for a simple sugar. (e.g., Glucose and fructose are monosaccharides.)
- Carbohydrate (n): A broader category of organic compounds that includes simple sugars, disaccharides, and polysaccharides.
- Disaccharide (n): A sugar formed from two monosaccharide molecules. While not a simple sugar itself, it is made of them.
Synonyms
- Monosaccharide
- Basic sugar
Antonyms
- Complex carbohydrate
- Polysaccharide (e.g., starch, cellulose)
Noun
-
a sugar (like sucrose or fructose) that does not hydrolyse to give other sugars; the simplest group of carbohydrates
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