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- Disaccharides are formed when two monosaccharides combine together through a chemical process called the condensation.
- Disaccharides are known as complex sugar.
- Examples of disaccharides are,
- Maltose
- known as malt sugar.
- It is a reducing sugar
- It is formed from condensation of two glucose molecules.
Glucose + glucose → maltose + water - Found in germinating cereals
- Produced during digestion of starch
- Sucrose
- It is found in sugar cane, beet root and sweet fruits
- It is a non-reducing sugar
- It is formed from glucose and fructose.
Glucose + fructose → sucrose + water
- Lactose
- Present in all mammals
- Is a reducing sugar
- It is formed from glucose and galactose
Glucose + galactose → lactose + water
- Disaccharides are decomposed to units of monosaccharide through hydrolysis (the addition of one molecule of water)