As you read about the process of photosynthesis, you will notice that some sources give glucose, a sugar, as the final product. Other sources state that the final product is carbohydrates. In fact, both are correct. Glucose is a type of carbohydrate.
Carbohydrates are compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms.
A molecule is a compound or group of atoms. By recombining the atoms of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in different combinations, the plant creates the different carbohydrates. The sugars, glucose and fructose, are simple carbohydrates. Starch and cellulose are complex carbohydrates. A simple carbohydrate consists of just a few atoms of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, while complex carbohydrates consist of many of each of the three basic atoms.