What simple sugar is produced by photosynthesis in the simplified equation?

• A. Fructose
• B. Glucose
• C. Sucrose
• D. Galactose

Answer: (B)

Photosynthesis builds a simple carbohydrate from carbon dioxide and water using light energy. In the common simplified equation, the sugar produced is glucose, a monosaccharide with the formula C6H12O6. Glucose is the immediate energy source for the plant and can be used to make storage starch or other carbohydrates. Fructose and galactose are other monosaccharides, but they aren’t the direct product shown in the standard simplified equation. Sucrose is a disaccharide made of glucose and fructose and isn’t the immediate product in that simplified form. So the simple sugar produced is glucose.