Disaccharide facts for kids
A disaccharide is a type of sugar, which is also known as a carbohydrate. It's made when two smaller sugar units, called monosaccharides, join together. Think of it like building with two LEGO bricks! For example, regular table sugar, called sucrose, is a disaccharide made from two simpler sugars: glucose and fructose.
When these two sugar units connect, a tiny bit of water is removed. This process makes the disaccharide very stable. Because of how they're formed, disaccharides can't be easily broken apart by just adding water back. This process is called hydrolysis. For instance, the sugar found in milk, called lactose, is made from glucose and galactose.
Contents
What are Common Disaccharides?
There are several common disaccharides that you might encounter every day. Each one is made from different combinations of simpler sugar units.
Sucrose: Your Everyday Sugar
Sucrose is the sugar you probably know best. It's often called table sugar, cane sugar, or beet sugar. It's a disaccharide made from one unit of glucose and one unit of fructose. You can find sucrose naturally in many plants, like sugarcane and sugar beets. It's what makes many fruits and vegetables taste sweet!
Lactose: The Sugar in Milk
Lactose is known as milk sugar. It's a disaccharide made from galactose and glucose. As its name suggests, lactose is found in milk and other dairy products. Some people have trouble digesting lactose, which means their bodies can't easily break it down into its smaller sugar units.
Maltose: The Sugar from Grains
Maltose is a disaccharide made from two units of glucose. It's often produced when grains like barley are processed, especially during a step called malting. This sugar is important in making things like beer and malted milk.
Trehalose: Found in Nature's Survivors
Trehalose is another disaccharide made from two glucose units. It's special because it's found in many fungi (like mushrooms) and insects. Trehalose helps these organisms survive in very dry or cold conditions. It's also used in some foods as an ingredient.
Cellobiose: From Plant Fibers
Cellobiose is also made from two glucose units, similar to maltose. However, the way these glucose units are linked is different. Cellobiose is a product that comes from breaking down cellulose, which is the main material in plant cell walls. Cellulose is a very large carbohydrate found in things like wood and cotton.
Maltose and cellobiose are both created when larger carbohydrates, called polysaccharides, are broken down. Maltose comes from starch, and cellobiose comes from cellulose.
