Disaccharides are the carbohydrates that on hydrolysis gives two same or different carbohydrates. Their general formula is C12H22O11.
Disaccharide
A disaccharide, also called a double sugar, is a molecule formed by two monosaccharides, or simple sugars. Three common disaccharides are sucrose, maltose, and lactose. They have 12 carbon atoms, and their chemical formula is C12H22O11.
- Disaccharides are carbohydrates found in many foods and are often added as sweeteners.
- Plants store energy in the form of disaccharides like sucrose, and it is also used for transporting nutrients in the phloem.
- Starch is the most common polysaccharides used for storage in plants, and it is broken down into maltose.
- When disaccharides are formed from monosaccharides, an -OH (hydroxyl) group is removed from one molecule and an H (hydrogen) is removed from the other.