What is a carbohydrate made from two sugar molecules called?

A carbohydrate made from two sugar molecules is referred to as a disaccharide. Disaccharides are formed when two monosaccharides, which are the simplest form of carbohydrates, undergo a condensation reaction, releasing water and forming a more complex sugar. This process highlights how simple sugars can combine to create slightly more complex structures. Common examples of disaccharides include sucrose (table sugar), which is made from glucose and fructose, and lactose, which consists of glucose and galactose.

Monosaccharides consist of single sugar units, making them the basic building blocks of carbohydrates. Oligosaccharides contain three to ten monosaccharide units and are more complex than disaccharides. Polysaccharides are carbohydrates that consist of long chains of monosaccharide units and can include structures like starch and cellulose, which are even more complex. Understanding these classifications helps clarify how carbohydrates are structured and how they function in nutrition.