Monomers and Polymers

Monomer- single unit

Polymer- long chain of monomers bonded together

Monomer                                                   Dimer                                                           Polymer

Monosaccharides                             Disaccharides                                        Polysaccharide

Glucose                                Glucose+glucose=maltose                                Starch         Glycogen

Galactose                             Glucose+galactose=lactose                              Cellulose

Fructose                               Glucose+fructose=sucrose                                Chitin

The difference between alpha and beta glucose is that alpha glucose has the hydrogen above the OH molecule on C1, and beta has the OH molecule above the hydrogen on C1.