Q. What is the difference between disaccharides and monosaccharides? What are some examples of monosaccharides and of disaccharides that form them?
Monosaccharides are simple molecules of carbohydrates that cannot be broken down into other carbohydrates. Fructose and Glucose are examples of monosaccharides. Disaccharides are carbohydrates made of two monosaccharides and with the loss of one molecule of water (dehydration). The chemical bond between two monosaccharides is called as a glycosidic bond.
Sucrose (table sugar) is a disaccharide made by the union of one molecule of fructose with one molecule of glucose. Maltose is a disaccharide made by two glucose molecules. Lactose (milk sugar) is another disaccharide and it is created by the union of one molecule of glucose with one molecule of galactose.