What are the simple sugars known as?

Simple sugars are known as monosaccharides. These are the most basic form of carbohydrates and consist of single sugar molecules, such as glucose and fructose. Monosaccharides are fundamental building blocks for more complex carbohydrates.

Disaccharides, on the other hand, are composed of two monosaccharides linked together, while oligosaccharides contain a small number of monosaccharide units, typically ranging from three to ten. Polysaccharides are larger molecules that consist of long chains of monosaccharide units. Thus, the correct classification of simple sugars as monosaccharides is based on their structure as single sugar units that can combine to form more complex carbohydrates.