Galactose is categorized as which kind of saccharide?

Galactose is classified as a monosaccharide, which is the simplest form of sugar. Monosaccharides consist of single sugar molecules that cannot be hydrolyzed into simpler sugars. They are the building blocks of more complex carbohydrates. Galactose is a six-carbon sugar (hexose) and is one of the two components that make up lactose, the sugar found in milk.

In contrast, disaccharides are formed by the combination of two monosaccharides, polysaccharides are large molecules made up of many monosaccharide units (like starch and glycogen), and oligosaccharides consist of a small number of monosaccharides (typically about 3 to 10). Understanding the classification of sugars is key in nutrition, as it provides insight into how different types of carbohydrates function in the body and their effects on health.