What are carbohydrates made up of?

Carbohydrates are organic compounds made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. The basic building blocks of carbohydrates are simple sugars, also known as monosaccharides. Monosaccharides can combine to form more complex carbohydrates, including disaccharides (two sugar molecules joined together) and polysaccharides (long chains of sugar molecules). Examples of monosaccharides include glucose, fructose, and galactose, while examples of disaccharides include sucrose (table sugar), lactose (found in milk), and maltose. Polysaccharides include starch, glycogen, and cellulose, among others. Carbohydrates serve as a primary source of energy for living organisms and play important structural roles in cells and tissues.