DISACCHARIDES – WELL EXPLAINED

These contain two monosaccharide units. The chemical process through which a large molecule (e.g a disaccharide) is formed from smaller molecules is called condensation and it involves loss of water

Common examples of disaccharides include sucrose, maltose and lactose

Disaccharides are broken into their monosaccharide units by heating with dilute hydrochloric acid
This is known as hydrolysis and involves addition of water molecules
The same process takes place inside cells through enzymes

Sucrose + water = hydrolysis—————–glucose+fructose Properties of Disaccharides

Sweet tasting
Soluble in water
Crystallisable
Maltose and lactose are reducing sugars while sucrose is non-reducing sugar
Sucrose is the form in which carbohydrate is transported in plants:
This is because it is soluble andjchernically stable
Sucrose is a storage carbohydrate in some plants e.g sugar-cane and sugar-beet
Disaccharides are hydrolysed to produce monosaccharide units which are readily metabolised by cell to provide energy.

Also See:

PROCESS OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS