What type of carbohydrate is lactose classified as?

Lactose is classified as a disaccharide because it is composed of two monosaccharide units: glucose and galactose. Disaccharides are carbohydrates formed when two monosaccharides are linked together by a glycosidic bond. In the case of lactose, this bond forms during the process of digestion when lactose is broken down into its constituent sugars, which can then be absorbed by the body.

This categorization of lactose as a disaccharide is significant because it distinguishes it from other types of carbohydrates such as monosaccharides, which consist of a single sugar molecule, and polysaccharides, which are large carbohydrate molecules made up of many monosaccharide units. Oligosaccharides fall in between, consisting of a small number of monosaccharides, typically ranging from two to ten. By understanding these classifications, one can better grasp how carbohydrates function in biological systems and their role in nutrition.