Question

What is a disaccharide? What monosaccharide units make up the disaccharide sucrose? What is the bond called that forms between the monosaccharide units?

Short answer

A disaccharide is a carbohydrate molecule composed of two monosaccharide units, such as glucose and fructose, linked together through a glycosidic bond. Sucrose, a common disaccharide, is made up of one glucose molecule and one fructose molecule connected by a glycosidic bond formed between carbon 1 of glucose and carbon 2 of fructose.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Disaccharides

A disaccharide is a carbohydrate molecule composed of two monosaccharide units linked together through a glycosidic bond. Monosaccharides are simple sugar molecules, such as glucose and fructose, which serve as the building blocks of more complex carbohydrates like disaccharides. Some common examples of disaccharides include sucrose, lactose, and maltose.

Identify the Monosaccharide Units of Sucrose

Sucrose is a disaccharide that is formed by the combination of two monosaccharide units: glucose and fructose. In the formation of sucrose, one glucose molecule and one fructose molecule join together through a glycosidic bond.

The Formation of the Glycosidic Bond

The bond that forms between the two monosaccharide units in a disaccharide is called a glycosidic bond. In the case of sucrose, the glycosidic bond forms when the hydroxyl group (\(-OH\)) of carbon 1 in the glucose molecule reacts with the hydroxyl group (\(-OH\)) of carbon 2 in the fructose molecule, resulting in the removal of a water molecule (dehydration) and the formation of the glycosidic linkage. In conclusion, a disaccharide is a carbohydrate molecule composed of two monosaccharide units linked together through a glycosidic bond. Sucrose is a disaccharide formed by the combination of glucose and fructose monosaccharide units connected through a glycosidic bond formed between carbon 1 of glucose and carbon 2 of fructose.