Maltose, Lactose and Sucrose
Maltose, sucrose, and lactose are three popular disaccharides. They have the same chemical formula,C12H22O11 but their structures are different. A detailed comparison between them is tabulated below:
Maltose |
Lactose |
Sucrose |
---|---|---|
Maltose is made up of two units of glucose |
Lactose is made up of one unit of glucose and one unit of galactose. |
Sucrose is made up of one unit of glucose and one unit of fructose. |
While maltose is present in germinating grains like barley. |
Lactose is present mainly in sugar in mammalian milk and cow’s milk. |
Sucrose is present in sugar cane, sugar beets, and fruits like pineapples, oranges, and grapes. |
Maltose is broken down into glucose molecules by the enzyme maltase |
Lactose is broken down into glucose and galactose by lactase. |
Sucrose is broken down into glucose and fructose by the sucrase enzyme. |
Maltose is used in brewing and fermentation processes |
Lactose is used in dairy products, baked goods, and pharmaceutical formulations, |
Sucrose is used in food and beverage products |
Maltose is a disaccharide molecule composed of two glucose molecules linked together |
Lactose is a disaccharide composed of a glucose molecule and a galactose molecule |
Sucrose is a disaccharide made up of glucose and a fructose molecule. |
Sucrose (C12H22O11)
Sucrose is often called table sugar or cane sugar. Sucrose is a naturally occurring disaccharide sugar. Sucrose is a monoclinic crystal structure, soluble in water, and has a sweet taste. It is also called table sugar with the molecular formula C12H22O11. Sugar is a synthesized form of Sucrose and consists of elements Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen. The sucrose molecule is composed of two monosaccharides- Glucose and Fructose connected via a glycosidic bond. The linking of two monosaccharides is called a glycosidic linkage. In 1857, William Miller coined the word Sucrose. For human consumption, Sucrose must be refined. It is mainly used as a food ingredient because of its sweet taste. Sucrose is obtained from sugar canes or sugar beets.
In this article, we will learn in detail about sucrose, the structure of sucrose, the physical and chemical properties of sucrose, and difference between sucrose and similar compounds.
Table of Content
- What is Sucrose? (C12H22O11)
- Structure of Sucrose
- Chemical Data of Sucrose
- Physical Properties of Sucrose
- Chemical Properties of Sucrose
- Thermal Degradation of Sucrose
- Fructose, Glucose and Sucrose
- Sucrose vs Sucralose
- Maltose, Lactose and Sucrose
- Sucrose vs Glucose
- Uses of Sucrose
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