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Multiple Choice
One characteristic shared by sucrose, lactose, and maltose is that __________.
A
they all contain only glucose as their monosaccharide component
B
they are all reducing sugars
C
they are all polysaccharides
D
they are all disaccharides composed of two monosaccharide units
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the question: The problem is asking about a shared characteristic of sucrose, lactose, and maltose. These are examples of carbohydrates, specifically disaccharides.
Define disaccharides: Disaccharides are carbohydrates composed of two monosaccharide units joined by a glycosidic bond. Examples include sucrose (glucose + fructose), lactose (glucose + galactose), and maltose (glucose + glucose).
Eliminate incorrect options: Analyze the given choices. The first option ('they all contain only glucose as their monosaccharide component') is incorrect because sucrose contains fructose and lactose contains galactose. The second option ('they are all reducing sugars') is incorrect because sucrose is not a reducing sugar. The third option ('they are all polysaccharides') is incorrect because polysaccharides are composed of many monosaccharide units, not just two.
Identify the correct characteristic: The correct answer is that sucrose, lactose, and maltose are all disaccharides composed of two monosaccharide units. This is the shared characteristic among them.
Summarize the reasoning: By understanding the structure and properties of these molecules, we conclude that the shared characteristic is their classification as disaccharides, which are formed by the combination of two monosaccharides through a glycosidic bond.