A sugar is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as, "Any of the class of soluble, crystalline, typically sweet-tasting carbohydrates found in living tissues and exemplified by glucose and sucrose." There are many types of sugars, which are categorized into two classes:monosaccharides (1 sugar unit) and disaccaharides (2 sugar units). Table sugar is a disaccharide.
The three monosaccharide sugars are glucose, fructose, and galactose. Glucose is found in carbohydrates such as wheat flour and starch. Fructose is found in fruits and vegetables. Galactose is found in some milk, gums, artificial jellies, and artificial beverage flavoring. The chemical formula for monosaccharides is C6H12O6.
Disaccharide sugars are formed through a combination of two monosaccharide molecules to form lactose, sucrose, andmaltose. Lactose (glucose+galactose) is found in milk. Sucrose (glucose+fructose) is found in sugar cane and byproducts of cane sugar including table sugar. Maltose (glucose+glucose) is not commonly found in food, but can be formed during the digestive process. The chemical formula for disaccharides is C12H22011.
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