Get to understand the clear distinction between polysaccharide, monosaccharide and disaccharide. The basis on distinction include: Description, Classification, solubility, Taste, chemical structure, molecular weight and Examples.
Key Differences
Description
- Polysaccharides are polymeric carbohydrate molecules composed of long chains of monosaccharide units bounded together by glycosidic bonds.
- A disaccharide also known as double sugar or bivose, is the sugar formed when two monosaccharides are joined together by glycosidic bonds.
- Monosacharides also referred to as simple sugars, are the simplest form of sugar and the most basic units of carbohydrates.
Classification
- Polysaccharides can be broadly classified into two classes: Homo-polysaccharides which are made up of one type of monosaccharide units i.e stach, glycogen and cellulose. The second classification is Hetero-polysaccharides which are made up of two or more types of monosaccharide units i.e hyaluronic acid, dermatan sulfate, keratin sulfate and heparin.
- Disaccharides are not further classified into different types.
- Monosaccharides can be classified by the number of carbon atoms they contain for example triose (3), tetrose (4), pentose (5), hexose (6), heptose (7) and so on.
Solubility
- Polysaccharides are insoluble in water.
- Most of disaccharides are soluble in water.
- Monosaccharides are soluble in water, but insoluble in non polar solvents.
Taste
- Polyssacharides do not have a sweet taste.
- Disaccharides have a sweet taste.
- Monosaccharides have a sweet taste.
Reducing Property
- Polysaccharides are non-reducing sugars.
- Some disaccharides are reducing sugars while others are non-reducing sugars.
- Monosaccharides are reducing sugars.
Number of Monomers
- Polysaccharides being a polymeric monomer is composed of a large number of monomers.
- Disaccharides are composed of two monomers.
- Monosaccharides have a single monomer.
Chemical Structure
- Polysaccharides have complex, branched structures.
- Disaccharides have simple, linear, unbranched or branched structures.
- Monosaccharides have simple, linear, unbranched structures.
Examples
- Examples of polysaccharides include starch, glycogen, cellulose and chitin.
- Examples of disaccharides include sucrose, lactose and maltose.
- Example of monosaccharides includes glucose, fructose and galactose.
Chemical Rings
- Polysaccharides have many ring structures.
- Disaccharides have two ring structures.
- Monosaccharides have a single ring structure.
Significance
- Polysaccharides are the structural component of cell walls and act as the energy reserves.
- Plants use disaccharides to transport monosaccharides like glucose, fructose and galactose between cells.
- Monosaccharides are chief energy source of energy with 4 calories per gram.
Molecular Weight
- Polysaccharides have a relatively larger molecular weight when compared to disaccharides.
- Disaccharides have a relatively larger molecular weight when compared to monosaccharides.
- Monosaccharides have a relatively lower molecular weight when compared to disaccharides and polysaccharides.
Examples of Foods
- Examples of polysaccharide food include wheat, oats, buckwheat, whole-grain bread, brown rice, legumes and rye.
- Disaccharides are usually added as sweeteners to food, an example is table sugar. Disaccharides are also found in foods like beetroot.
- Foods that can be said to be examples of monosaccharides include cane sugars, honey, beans, fruits and dairy products.
Differences Between Monosaccharide, Polysaccharide And Disaccharide In Tabular Form
| BASIS OF COMPARISON | MONOSACCHARIDE | DISACCHARIDE | POLYSACCHARIDE |
| Description | Monosacharides also referred to as simple sugars, are the simplest form of sugar and the most basic units of carbohydrates. | A disaccharide also known as double sugar or bivose, is the sugar formed when two monosaccharides are joined together by glycosidic bonds. | Polysaccharides are polymeric carbohydrate molecules composed of long chains of monosaccharide units bounded together by glycosidic bonds. |
| Classification | Monosaccharides can be classified by the number of carbon atoms they contain for example triose (3), tetrose (4), pentose (5), hexose (6), heptose (7) and so on. | Not further classified into different types. | Homo-polysaccharides. Hetero-polysaccharide. |
| Solubility | Soluble in water. | Soluble in water. | Insoluble in water. |
| Taste | Have a sweet taste. | Have a sweet taste. | Do not have a sweet taste. |
| Reducing Property | Reducing sugars. | Reducing sugars while others are non-reducing sugars. | Non reducing sugars. |
| Number of Monomers | Has a single monomer. | Have two monomers. | Is composed of a large number of monomers. |
| Chemical Structure | Have simple, linear, unbranched structures. | Have simple, linear, unbranched or branched structures. | Have complex, branched structures. ] |
| Examples | Glucose, Fructose and Galactose. | Sucrose, lactose and Maltose. | Starch, Glycogen, Cellulose and Chitin. |
| Chemical Ring Structure | Single ring structure. | Two ring structure. | Have many ring structures. |
| Significance | Monosaccharides are chief energy source of energy with 4 calories per gram. | Plants use disaccharides to transport monosaccharides like glucose, fructose and galactose between cells. | Polysaccharides re the structural component of cell walls and act as the energy reserves. |
| Molecular Weight | Monosaccharides have a relatively lower molecular weight when compared to disaccharides and polysaccharides. | Disaccharides have a relatively larger molecular weight when compared to monosaccharides. | Polysaccharides have a relatively larger molecular weight when compared to disaccharides. |
| Example of Foods | Foods that can be said to be examples of monosaccharides include cane sugars, honey, beans, fruits and dairy products. | Disaccharides are usually added as sweeteners to food, an example is table sugar. Disaccharides are also found in foods like beetroot. | Examples of polysaccharide food include wheat, oats, buckwheat, whole-grain bread, brown rice, legumes and rye. |
What is the main Difference Between Monosaccharide, Disaccharides and Polysaccharide?
- Polysaccharides are polymeric carbohydrate molecules composed of long chains of monosaccharide units bounded together by glycosidic bonds.
- Disaccharide also known as double sugar or bivose, is the sugar formed when two monosaccharides are joined together by glycosidic bonds.
- Monosacharides also referred to as simple sugars, are the simplest form of sugar and the most basic units of carbohydrates.