Simple sugars are also known as ___.

Simple sugars are best described as monosaccharides. These are the most basic form of carbohydrates, consisting of single sugar molecules like glucose and fructose. Monosaccharides are important because they serve as the building blocks for more complex carbohydrates and are vital for energy production in biological systems.

Other categories of carbohydrates, such as disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides, are composed of multiple monosaccharide units linked together. Disaccharides, for instance, consist of two monosaccharides joined by a glycosidic bond, while oligosaccharides are made up of a small number of monosaccharides (typically 3-10). Polysaccharides consist of long chains of monosaccharides and include substances like starch and cellulose. Understanding these classifications helps in grasping the broader context of carbohydrate structures and their functions in various biological processes.