Which of the following is an example of a monosaccharide?

Fructose is indeed an example of a monosaccharide. Monosaccharides are the simplest form of carbohydrates and consist of single sugar units that cannot be hydrolyzed into smaller carbohydrates. Fructose, specifically, is a six-carbon sugar (hexose) that is naturally found in many fruits, honey, and root vegetables. Its structure allows it to quickly enter metabolic pathways, providing a rapid source of energy.

In contrast, cellulose, glycogen, and starch are all polysaccharides, which are complex carbohydrates composed of long chains of monosaccharide units. Cellulose is made up of β-glucose units and provides structural support in plant cell walls. Glycogen serves as an energy storage form in animals and is comprised of branched chains of glucose. Starch, primarily found in plants, is also made up of long chains of glucose, and it serves as a storage form of energy in plants. Understanding these distinctions highlights the unique role that monosaccharides like fructose play in metabolism compared to the complex structures of polysaccharides.