Tag: Disaccharide formula

Over 90% of sucrose, or table sugar, is composed of the disaccharide known as sucrose. The simple and uniform structure of carbohydrates, including the specific formula for a disaccharide, is fundamental to how these energy-rich molecules function in biology. This formula, while simple, arises from a crucial chemical process.

Most disaccharides, such as sucrose, maltose, and lactose, share the same chemical formula, C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁. This simple formula for a disaccharide is derived from the combination of two monosaccharide units, from which a single water molecule is removed during a condensation reaction.