AP Biology Flashcards: Carbohydrates
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: July 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
What is another term for a 'simple sugar'?
Another term for a simple sugar is a monosaccharide.
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What is another term for a 'simple sugar'?
Another term for a simple sugar is a monosaccharide.
What is another term for a 'complex carbohydrate'?
Another term for a complex carbohydrate is a polysaccharide.
How are complex carbohydrates constructed from their basic units?
Complex carbohydrates are constructed when monomers called monosaccharides are joined by covalent bonds to form polymers.
What is the general term for the building block of a polysaccharide?
The building block, or monomer, of a polysaccharide is a monosaccharide.
What is a monosaccharide?
A monosaccharide, also known as a simple sugar, is the monomer that is used to build more complex carbohydrates.
What is a polysaccharide?
A polysaccharide, or complex carbohydrate, is a polymer made of many monosaccharide monomers linked by covalent bonds.
What are the two structural shapes that carbohydrate polymers can form?
Carbohydrate polymers (polysaccharides) can form either linear or branched structures.
Describe the monomer-polymer relationship in carbohydrates.
In carbohydrates, monosaccharides (simple sugars) are the monomers that link together to form polymers called polysaccharides (complex carbohydrates).
What type of bond connects simple sugars to form complex carbohydrates?
Covalent bonds are responsible for linking monosaccharide monomers together to create polysaccharides.
If you observe a large, branched polymer made of simple sugar units, what type of molecule is it?
This molecule is a polysaccharide, also known as a complex carbohydrate.