What is lactose composed of?

Answer 1

At the atomic level, Sucrose (table sugar) has the chemical formula C12H22O11, meaning 12 Carbon atoms, 22 Hydrogen atoms and 11 Oxygen atoms. Since Sucrose contains Carbon, Sucrose is an organic molecule. As a molecular compound itself, it contains one glucose molecule and one fructose molecule, therefore it is a disaccharide, meaning it is a compound molecule made of two smaller molecules, or a di-saccharide.

Lactose, or milk sugar, has the chemical formula C12H22O11, meaning it is made of exactly the same atoms, and in exactly the same count as Sucrose. And, like Sucrose, Lactose is also a disaccharide, being made of one glucose molecule and one galactose molecule (the latter is really just a modified glucose molecule). So, what is the difference between the two sugars? Well, it all has to do with how those atoms are put together. For example…

Lets say you want to build a building and all you have is bricks, wood and cement (representing Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen in our sugar molecules). Well, depending on how you put those three things together you could build a house out of bricks, wood and cement, or a store, or a Cassel. You could also build a fence or a patio out of those same three things, bricks, wood and cement. It all has to do with how those things are put together.

Answer 2

It's a disaccharide. When broken down with another disaccharide called lactase, it forms a monosaccharide called glucose.

Answer 3

It's a disaccharide and composed of glucose and galactose.

Answer 4

The monosaccharide that makes up starch is glucose, C6H12O6. Starch is a polysaccharide made up of glucose molecules.

Answer 5

lactase