Maltose falls under which category of saccharides?

Maltose is classified as a disaccharide because it consists of two monosaccharide units, specifically two glucose molecules. Disaccharides are carbohydrates formed when two monosaccharides undergo a glycosidic bond through a dehydration reaction. In the case of maltose, the linkage of the two glucose molecules results in this specific disaccharide structure.

This classification is significant as it helps differentiate between the various categories of carbohydrates based on their complexity and molecular structure. Monosaccharides, for instance, are the simplest carbohydrates and cannot be hydrolyzed into smaller carbohydrate units. Polysaccharides, on the other hand, consist of long chains of monosaccharide units, while oligosaccharides are generally composed of a few (usually 2-10) monosaccharides. Understanding these differences is crucial in the study of nutrition and how different types of carbohydrates affect metabolism and health.