Definition

A type of carbohydrate made up of many sugar molecules that can break down into simple sugars when processed with water.

Example

Hexosans are important in the study of carbohydrates and their functions in living organisms.

Conversation

Have you heard about hexosan and its properties?

Yeah, I read that it's a type of polysaccharide, right?

Exactly! It's interesting how it can yield hexoses on hydrolysis.

I find that fascinating — it shows how complex carbohydrates can be!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Hexosan is formed from "hex" (from Greek "hexas", meaning six) and "-osan" (a suffix used in biochemistry to denote a type of carbohydrate). The word refers to a carbohydrate that contains six monosaccharide units.

Memory Tip

Think of 'hex' meaning six, and remember that 'hexosan' refers to a carbohydrate made up of six sugar units.

Visually Confused Words