How many sugar links are found in disaccharides?

Disaccharides are carbohydrates composed of two monosaccharide units that are chemically linked together through a glycosidic bond. This bond forms when a hydroxyl group (–OH) from one monosaccharide reacts with a hydrogen atom (–H) from another, resulting in the release of a water molecule (a condensation reaction). The two monosaccharides can be the same or different, and the resulting structure is characterized by its double sugar linkage. This is foundational in nutrition, as disaccharides include common sugars like sucrose, lactose, and maltose, each made up of specific pairs of monosaccharides.

The correct answer highlights the characteristic feature of disaccharides: they are indeed composed of two sugar units linked together, making them distinct from other types of sugars, such as monosaccharides (single sugars) or polysaccharides (which involve many sugar links). Understanding this relationship is vital for comprehending how carbohydrates function in nutrition and their role in energy provision and metabolism.