What is the monomer of lactose?

Lactose is a disaccharide sugar, specifically found in milk and dairy products. It is composed of two monosaccharide units, which serve as its building blocks, or monomers. The two monomers that combine to form lactose are glucose and galactose.

In lactose, these two simple sugars are linked together by a glycosidic bond. Glucose is a well-known monosaccharide that serves as a primary source of energy in living organisms, while galactose is another monosaccharide that, together with glucose, contributes to the unique properties of lactose.

This biochemical structure is crucial because it allows lactose to be metabolized by certain enzymes in the body, such as lactase, which breaks it down into glucose and galactose for absorption. Understanding the composition of lactose helps illustrate the importance of carbohydrates in nutrition and their role in our diet.