What type of carbohydrate is Maltose?

Maltose is classified as a disaccharide, which means it is composed of two monosaccharide units. In the case of maltose, these units are two glucose molecules linked together by a glycosidic bond. Disaccharides, including maltose, are formed through the condensation of two monosaccharides, resulting in the release of a water molecule. This distinguishes them from monosaccharides, which are the simplest form of carbohydrates and cannot be hydrolyzed into smaller carbohydrate units. Oligosaccharides consist of a few monosaccharides (typically 2-10), which is broader than maltose's specific composition of two. Polysaccharides are larger carbohydrate molecules made up of many monosaccharide units and include starch and cellulose. Hence, maltoase firmly fits the definition of a disaccharide due to its specific structure and formation from two monosaccharides.