A monosaccharide is a simple polyhydrooxy aldehyde or ketone molecule , which cannot be further hydrolyzed into smaller units .
The number of carbon atoms in monosaccharide vary from

Options

A. 2-8 carbons
B. 2-7 carbons
C. 3-6 carbons
D. 3-7 carbons

Answer

To determine the number of carbon atoms in monosaccharides, we need to analyze the definition and characteristics of monosaccharides.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Definition of Monosaccharides**:
- Monosaccharides are the simplest form of carbohydrates. They are defined as polyhydroxy aldehydes or ketones that cannot be hydrolyzed into smaller sugar units.

2. **Understanding the Structure**:
- The term "mono" means one, and "saccharide" means sugar, indicating that monosaccharides consist of a single sugar unit.

3. **Range of Carbon Atoms**:
- Monosaccharides can vary in the number of carbon atoms they contain. The common range for carbon atoms in monosaccharides is from 3 to 7.
- For example:
- 3 carbon monosaccharide: Glyceraldehyde
- 4 carbon monosaccharide: Erythrose
- 5 carbon monosaccharide: Ribose
- 6 carbon monosaccharides: Glucose and Fructose
- 7 carbon monosaccharide: Heptose

4. **Rare Occurrence of Higher Carbon Monosaccharides**:
- Monosaccharides with 8 or more carbon atoms are very rare and not commonly found in nature.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the number of carbon atoms in a monosaccharide varies from **3 to 7**.

### Final Answer:
The number of carbon atoms in monosaccharides varies from **3 to 7**.

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