Question

Sucrose on hydrolysis gives (a) glucose + glucose (b) glucose + galactose (c) glucose \(+\) fructose (d) glucose \(+\) lactose

Short answer

Sucrose hydrolysis produces glucose + fructose (option c).

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Sucrose Composition

Sucrose is a disaccharide composed of two monosaccharides. To determine which monosaccharides it yields upon hydrolysis, it's essential to recognize the structure and components of sucrose.

Identifying Sucrose's Monosaccharide Components

Sucrose is made up of one molecule of glucose and one molecule of fructose. Upon hydrolysis, it will split into these two monosaccharides.

Analyzing Hydrolysis Results

When sucrose undergoes hydrolysis, it reacts with water to break the glycosidic bond, resulting in one molecule of glucose and one molecule of fructose as products.

Choosing the Correct Option

Based on the hydrolysis products, the correct answer corresponds to option (c), which states that sucrose yields glucose and fructose.

Key concepts

Disaccharide

A disaccharide is a type of carbohydrate formed by the combination of two monosaccharide molecules. Disaccharides serve as an essential source of energy for our bodies. Common examples include sucrose, lactose, and maltose.
When disaccharides undergo hydrolysis, they break down into the monosaccharides that comprise them. Sucrose, for instance, is made up of glucose and fructose. When digested, it splits into these two simpler sugars. This breakdown process aids our bodies in utilizing the sugars for energy.

Monosaccharides

Monosaccharides are the simplest form of carbohydrates, often referred to as simple sugars. Each one is just a single sugar unit, making them the building blocks for more complex carbohydrates.
These essential sugars include glucose, fructose, and galactose. In contrast to disaccharides, monosaccharides are readily absorbed during digestion without needing to be broken down further. They are soluble in water and easily transported through the bloodstream to cells where they're used for energy and other cellular processes.

Glycosidic Bond

The glycosidic bond is a covalent bond that links monosaccharide units together to form disaccharides and more complex carbohydrates. This bond forms during a condensation reaction, which involves the removal of a water molecule.

• In the case of sucrose, a glycosidic bond links a glucose molecule to a fructose molecule.
• When sucrose undergoes hydrolysis, water is used to break this bond, resulting in free glucose and fructose units.

Knowing how these bonds work is crucial for understanding how carbohydrates are constructed and broken down in metabolic pathways.

Glucose

Glucose is one of the most crucial monosaccharides in biology. Often known as blood sugar, it is a primary energy source for living organisms.
Glucose is also a key component in cellular respiration, a process that converts glucose into energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Its good solubility in water allows it to travel easily through the bloodstream.
In the case of the hydrolysis of sucrose, glucose is released along with fructose, thus available for energy production.

Fructose

Fructose is another simple sugar that is naturally found in many fruits and honey. Less is known about it compared to glucose, but it plays a significant role in our diet.
Upon ingestion, fructose is absorbed more slowly than glucose, but it's eventually converted into glucose by the liver. This conversion ensures that fructose can be used as an immediate source of energy or stored in the form of glycogen.

• Fructose is combined with glucose to form the disaccharide sucrose.
• In digestion, sucrose hydrolysis yields free fructose, ready for metabolism by cells.

Understanding fructose and its role in combining with glucose offers insight into how our bodies balance and manage sugar intake.