Aldose is a type of carbohydrate that contains an aldehyde group (-CHO) on the first carbon atom. These sugars are classified based on the number of carbon atoms present, ranging from three to six or more.
Related terms
Monosaccharide: The simplest form of carbohydrates that cannot be hydrolyzed further to give simpler sugars.
Ketose: A type of carbohydrate that contains a ketone group (C=O) on the second carbon atom instead of an aldehyde group.
Glyceraldehyde: A three-carbon aldose with one aldehyde group, serving as a simple example within this family and a central intermediate in metabolic pathways