Carbon

• Carbon is one of the three elements found in all sugars, and is the fourth most common element in the universe. Carbon's atomic number is six, meaning that it is comprised of six protons, neutrons and electrons, in its most common state. Carbon makes up several materials, including diamonds, graphite and organic matter. Monosaccharide sugar molecules contain six carbon atoms, while disaccharides contain 12 carbon atoms. Disaccharides maintain both carbons from the monosaccharides they are comprised of.
  
  

Oxygen

• Oxygen is one of the most highly reactive nonmetallic elements, and is never found in a single element state outside of the photosynthesis process. This element is used by all organisms that use cellular respiration, and is found in all organic compounds, including sugars. Six oxygen atoms are found in monosaccharide sugars, while only 11 oxygen molecules are found in disaccharide sugars. When monosaccharides form disaccharides, one of the oxygen atoms is lost in the process.
  
  

Hydrogen

• Hydrogen is the most common element in the universe, as well as the lightest. This element is comprised of a single neutron, proton and electron in its most common state. Hydrogen comprises the majority of elements in the various sugars. Monosaccharides contain 12 hydrogen atoms, twice as many as both oxygen and carbon atoms, and disaccharides contain 22 hydrogen atoms, losing two hydrogen atoms when the monosaccharides combine with each other. These two hydrogen bond with the lost oxygen to form a water molecule.
  
  

Atomic Structure

• While all monosaccharides and all disaccharides are made up of the same number of oxygen, hydrogen and carbon atoms, the structure of the atoms determines the type of sugar formed. Depending on how the other atoms bond with the carbohydrate in the monosaccharide will determine whether glucose, fructose or galactose is formed. When two types of monosaccharides bond together, the sugars form a disaccharide, or sugar with two carbohydrates, and a single water molecule.