Question

monosaccharides are called reducing sugars but disaccharides are not.Why? write an example of each type of sugar

Answer 1

Monosaccharides have a free aldehyde or ketose group.

• All monosaccharides can act as reducing agents as they have a free aldehyde or ketose group.
• Disaccharides are not called as reducing sugars because not all disaccharides act as reducing agents, only some of the disaccharides act as reducing agents.
• Example of monosaccharide include glucose and fructose.
• Example of reducing disaccharide is lactose and example of non reducing disaccharide is sucrose.

Answer 2

Explanation:

Monosaccharides have a free aldehyde or ketose group. All monosaccharides can act as reducing agents as they have a free aldehyde or ketose group. Disaccharides are not called as reducing sugars because not all disaccharides act as reducing agents, only some of the disaccharides act as reducing agents.