Monosaccharides are composed of

Options

A. 2-3 carbon atoms
B. 3-7 carbon atoms
C. 8-10 carbon atoms
D. More than 10 carbon atoms

Answer

To answer the question "Monosaccharides are composed of," we can break down the information as follows:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Definition of Monosaccharides**:
- Monosaccharides are the simplest form of carbohydrates and are often referred to as simple sugars.

2. **Composition of Monosaccharides**:
- Monosaccharides are composed of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O) atoms. The general formula for monosaccharides is \( C_n(H_2O)_n \), where \( n \) represents the number of carbon atoms.

3. **Classification by Carbon Atoms**:
- Monosaccharides can be classified based on the number of carbon atoms they contain:
- **Triose**: 3 carbon atoms (e.g., glyceraldehyde, dihydroxyacetone)
- **Tetrose**: 4 carbon atoms (e.g., erythrose)
- **Pentose**: 5 carbon atoms (e.g., ribose, deoxyribose)
- **Hexose**: 6 carbon atoms (e.g., glucose, fructose)
- **Heptose**: 7 carbon atoms (e.g., sedoheptulose)

4. **Range of Carbon Atoms**:
- The number of carbon atoms in monosaccharides typically ranges from 3 to 7.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, monosaccharides are composed of 3 to 7 carbon atoms, along with hydrogen and oxygen.

### Final Answer:
Monosaccharides are composed of 3 to 7 carbon atoms.

---