Which type of carbohydrate consists of chains of monosaccharide molecules?

Polysaccharides are carbohydrates that consist of long chains of monosaccharide molecules linked together by glycosidic bonds. They can be composed of hundreds or thousands of these monosaccharide units. Common examples of polysaccharides include starch, cellulose, and glycogen. These complex carbohydrates serve various functions in living organisms, such as energy storage and providing structural support in plant cell walls.

In contrast, monosaccharides are the simplest form of carbohydrates, consisting of single sugar molecules, such as glucose and fructose. Disaccharides consist of two monosaccharide units, like sucrose (table sugar), while oligosaccharides contain a small number (typically 2-10) of monosaccharides. Therefore, the defining characteristic of polysaccharides is their structure as long chains of monosaccharides, which sets them apart from the other types of carbohydrates.