All monosaccharides are oxidized by Benedict's or Fehling's reagent and are called reducing sugars. Monosaccharides can react with alcohols to produce acetals or ketals that are called glycosides. Ribose and deoxyribose are important as components of nucleic acids. The hexoses glucose, galactose, and fructose are the most important nutritionally and the most abundant in nature. Glucose, also known as blood sugar, is transported within the bloodstream to body tissues where it supplies energy.
Glycosidic linkages join monosaccharide units together to form disaccharides.
Cellulose, starch, and glycogen are three important polysaccharides. Starch is the major storage form of glucose in plants, whereas glycogen is the storage form of glucose in animals. Cellulose is the structural material of plants.