Carbohydrates are essential biomolecules that serve various functions in living organisms. They are mainly comprised of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, typically in a ratio that resembles that of water, hence their name. The simplest form of carbohydrates are monosaccharides, which cannot be hydrolyzed into simpler sugars. Glucose, fructose, and galactose are common examples of monosaccharides. When two monosaccharides join together, they form disaccharides, such as sucrose and lactose. Understanding the structure and function of carbohydrates is crucial in biochemistry.
Which of the following statements accurately describes a characteristic of monosaccharides?