Question

A dehydration reaction links two glucose molecules to produce maltose. If the formula for glucose is $\text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6$ then what is the formula for maltose?

• A. $\text{C}_{12}\text{H}_{20}\text{O}_{10}$
• B. $\text{C}_{12}\text{H}_{24}\text{O}_{12}$
• C. $\text{C}_{12}\text{H}_{22}\text{O}_{11}$
• D. $\text{C}_{12}\text{H}_{24}\text{O}_{11}$

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

$\text{C}_{12}\text{H}_{22}\text{O}_{11}$

Answer 2

In a dehydration reaction, two molecules of the sugar glucose (monomers) combine to form a single molecule of the sugar maltose. Two glucose molecules should combine to form a disaccharide $\text{C}_{12}\text{H}_{24}\text{O}_{12}$ . However, due to dehydration, one H2O molecule is eliminated and the final product is $\text{C}_{12}\text{H}_{22}\text{O}_{11}$.

The formula for maltose is $\text{C}_{12}\text{H}_{22}\text{O}_{11}$

Maltose is formed by a dehydration reaction between two glucose molecules. In each glucose molecule $\text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6,$ one molecule of water (H2O) is eliminated. This results in the formation of a glycosidic bond between the two glucose units.

When two glucose molecules combine to form maltose, the formula for maltose can be determined by adding up the respective atoms from each glucose molecule while subtracting one water molecule:

$(C_6H_{12}O_6) + (C_6H_{12}O_6) - H_2O = C_{12}H_{22}O_{11}$

Therefore, the formula for maltose is $\text{C}_{12}\text{H}_{22}\text{O}_{11}$