Understand the classification of carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are classified based on the number of sugar units they contain. The main categories are monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides.
Define a disaccharide: A disaccharide is a carbohydrate composed of two monosaccharide units joined by a glycosidic bond. Common examples include sucrose, lactose, and maltose.
Identify the structure of maltose: Maltose is composed of two glucose molecules linked by an α(1→4) glycosidic bond.
Compare maltose to other carbohydrate types: Monosaccharides consist of a single sugar unit, oligosaccharides contain 3-10 sugar units, and polysaccharides are long chains of monosaccharide units. Since maltose has two sugar units, it fits the definition of a disaccharide.
Conclude the classification: Based on the structure and the number of sugar units, maltose is classified as a disaccharide.