How are polysaccharides primarily characterized?

Polysaccharides are primarily characterized as complex carbohydrates. They are large molecules made up of long chains of monosaccharide units connected by glycosidic bonds. This structural complexity allows them to perform various functions in living organisms, including energy storage and providing structural support. For example, starch and glycogen serve as energy reserves, while cellulose provides rigidity to plant cell walls.

The other options do not accurately represent polysaccharides: the simplest sugars refer to monosaccharides, which are the building blocks of polysaccharides. Volatile organic compounds are organic chemicals that have high vapor pressures and may not be related to carbohydrates at all. Saturated fats are a type of lipid and also do not pertain to carbohydrate classification. Thus, the characterization of polysaccharides as complex carbohydrates highlights their structural and functional significance in biological systems.