Q. 13.55 - An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

Question

Isomaltose, obtained from the breakdown of starch, has the following Haworth structure; 

a. Is isomaltose a mono-d- or polysaccharide?

b. What are the monosaccharides in isomaltose?

c. What is the glycosidic link in isomaltose?

d. Is this the $\alpha$ or $\beta$ isomer of isomaltose?

e. Is isomaltose a reducing sugar?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

Part a) Glucose sugar molecules in the structure.

$\alpha \text{-Glucose }$

Part b) The glycosidic link in isomaltose $\alpha -1,6$

• $\alpha isomer$

Step 1: Explanation (Part-a)

Isomaltose is classified as a dissacharide because it contains TWO monosaccharide units of glucose sugar molecules, as seen in the structure.

Step 2: Explanation (Part-b)

$\alpha -$Glucose monosaccharides makeup isomaltose.

Explanation (Part-c)

$\text{ The glycosidic link in isomaltose }\alpha -1,6$

Explanation (Part-d)

$\text{ This is the }\alpha \text{ isomer of isomaltose }$