Disaccharides

Disaccharides are sugars, from each molecule of which, upon hydrolysis, two molecules of monosaccharides are formed.

Disaccharides include:

1. Sucrose is formed by the condensation of a glucose molecule and a fructose molecule. Sucrose is widespread in nature and is used by humans as food sugar.

2. Lactose is milk sugar consisting of glucose and galactose residues. Lactose is found in the milk of mammals.

3. Maltose - consists of two glucose residues. It is formed during the hydrolysis of starch under the action of enzymes during the germination of seeds of cereal plants. Used in the production of beer and whiskey.

Thus, disaccharides are an important class of carbohydrates that are widespread in nature and play an important role in human and animal nutrition.

A disaccharide is two monosaccharide units of the same structure, connected to each other by a certain type of bond. They, in turn, can be a monodisperse element or a long chain of identical units. This is how oligo-, teo-, or polysaccharides are formed, most often found in nature, for example starch, inulin, cellulose.