saccharide definition by Wordo

Noun

The

unit

structure

of

carbohydrates

,

of

general formula

C

<

sub

>

n

sub

>

H

<

sub

>

2n

sub

>

O

<

sub

>

n

sub

>.

Either

the

simple

sugars

or

polymers

such

as

starch

and

cellulose

.

The

saccharides

exist

in

either

a

ring

or

short

chain

conformation

,

and

typically

contain

five

or

six

carbon

atoms

.