Abundant energy is locked in their many carbon-hydrogen bonds.
Plants, algae, and some bacteria produce carbohydrates by the process of photosynthesis. Most organisms use carbohydrates as an important fuel, breaking these bonds and releasing energy to sustain life. Some of these sweet-tasting sugars have as few as three carbon atoms. The monosaccharides that play a central role in energy storage, however, have six. Figure 9 Structure of glucose molecule.