Maltose is which type of carbohydrate?

• A. Disaccharide
• B. Monosaccharide
• C. Polysaccharide
• D. Oligosaccharide

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the classification of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are divided into four main types based on the number of sugar units: monosaccharides (single sugar unit), disaccharides (two sugar units), oligosaccharides (3-10 sugar units), and polysaccharides (many sugar units).
2. Step 2: Recall the structure of maltose. Maltose is composed of two glucose molecules linked together by a glycosidic bond.
3. Step 3: Match the structure of maltose to the carbohydrate classification. Since maltose consists of two sugar units, it falls under the category of disaccharides.
4. Step 4: Eliminate the other options. Monosaccharides consist of only one sugar unit (e.g., glucose, fructose). Polysaccharides consist of many sugar units (e.g., starch, cellulose). Oligosaccharides consist of 3-10 sugar units, which does not apply to maltose.
5. Step 5: Conclude that maltose is a disaccharide based on its structure and the definition of carbohydrate types.