Chemical Properties of Lactose
- Lactose on hydrolysis with 2% H2SO4 yields 1 mole of D-glucose and 1 mole of D-galactose.
C12H22O11 + H2O → C6H12O6 (glucose) + C6H12O6 (galactose)
- Polyhydric alcohol named lactitol is produced by the catalytic hydrogenation of lactose. Lactose undergoes hydrogenation in the presence of a Raney-Nickel catalyst, resulting in the formation of lactitol.
- Lactose is isomerized in an alkaline solution to produce Lactulose.
- The molar mass of Lactose is 342.297 g/mol.
Lactose Formula
Lactose is a type of carbohydrate that is also called milk sugar and lactobiose. It is a disaccharide that is synthesized from galactose and glucose subunits. The “lactase” enzyme breaks lactose into glucose and galactose when it is absorbed in the intestine. It is used in the food industry, bacterial identification, and pharmaceutical industry, and is also used as a nutrient, and cutting agent. It is an essential carbohydrate for infants.
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