disacáridos

Disaccharides are a type of carbohydrate that consist of two monosaccharide units linked together by a glycosidic bond. When two monosaccharides join, a molecule of water is released in a process called dehydration synthesis. The reverse reaction, hydrolysis, breaks the glycosidic bond and requires the addition of water, separating the disaccharide back into its constituent monosaccharides. Common examples of disaccharides include sucrose, which is table sugar, formed from glucose and fructose. Lactose, found in milk, is composed of glucose and galactose. Maltose, often produced during the breakdown of starch, consists of two glucose units. The properties and functions of disaccharides are largely determined by the specific monosaccharides they are made of and the type of glycosidic linkage between them. They serve as important sources of energy for many organisms and play roles in various biological processes.