Complex carbohydrates, like starch, are called ___.

Complex carbohydrates, such as starch, are classified as polysaccharides. This classification is based on their structure and the number of sugar units they contain. Polysaccharides are long chains of monosaccharide units linked together through glycosidic bonds. Starch, specifically, is a storage form of glucose in plants and consists of numerous glucose molecules joined together, making it a prime example of a polysaccharide.

In contrast, the other classifications involve fewer sugar units: monosaccharides are single sugar molecules like glucose or fructose, while disaccharides consist of two monosaccharides linked together, such as sucrose or lactose. Saccharides is a general term that encompasses all types of carbohydrates but doesn't specifically describe complex carbohydrates. Polysaccharides are thus distinct in their role and complexity compared to these other types.