What are the carbohydrates formed from two monosaccharides known as?

Carbohydrates formed from two monosaccharides are known as disaccharides. This classification occurs because disaccharides consist of two simple sugar units (monosaccharides) bonded together through a glycosidic linkage. Common examples of disaccharides include sucrose (glucose + fructose) and lactose (glucose + galactose). This unique structure differentiates disaccharides from other carbohydrate types.

Monosaccharides are the simplest form of carbohydrates consisting of single sugar molecules. Oligosaccharides, on the other hand, consist of a small number (typically three to ten) of monosaccharides linked together, while polysaccharides are larger molecules composed of many monosaccharide units, often serving as storage forms of energy or structural components in organisms. Thus, recognizing that disaccharides are specifically formed from just two monosaccharides helps clarify their distinct role within the carbohydrate classification system.