What type of carbohydrates are formed by the condensation of many monosaccharide units?

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Polysaccharides are formed through the condensation of many monosaccharide units. This process involves a chemical reaction known as dehydration synthesis, where water is released as bonds are created between individual monosaccharide molecules. As a result of these reactions, long chains of repeating sugar units are linked together, forming large, complex carbohydrates.

Polysaccharides serve various important functions in biological systems. For example, starch and glycogen are energy storage forms that provide organisms with a means to store glucose for later use. Cellulose, another polysaccharide, is a major component of plant cell walls and provides structural support.

The other types of carbohydrates mentioned do not fit this definition as they involve fewer monosaccharide units. Disaccharides consist of two monosaccharides joined together, while oligosaccharides contain a small number of monosaccharides (typically between three and ten). Monosaccharides are the simplest form of carbohydrates and do not result from the condensation process of multiple sugar units. Thus, the formation of polysaccharides is the correct answer to the question posed.

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