Chemical Properties of Maltose
- Maltose is a reducing sugar because one of its glucose units has a free aldehyde group.
- On treating maltose with sulphuric acid, carbon dioxide, water, and sulfur dioxide are formed as the byproducts.
C12H22O11 + 24H2SO4 → 12CO2 + 35H2O + 24SO2
- Hydrolysis of maltose results in the production of ethanol and carbon dioxide.
C12H22O11 + H2O → 4C2H5OH + 4CO2
- The hydrolysis reaction of maltose in the presence of the maltase enzyme gives two molecules – alpha D-glucose.
C12H22O11 + H2O 2C6H12O6
Maltose Formula
Maltose is a type of carbohydrate that is also called maltobiose or malt sugar. The chemical or molecular formula of maltose is C12H22O11. It is a disaccharide formed from two units of alpha-D glucose that are linked by an alpha-1,4 glycosidic bond. It is composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. It is a white crystalline, odorless, sweet-tasting powder. Maltose is a reducing sugar and undergoes mutarotation. It occurs naturally in germinating seeds and can also be prepared in the presence of the enzyme diastase by the hydrolysis of starch. It is one of the nutrients that helps our body function effectively and allows us to carry out our day-to-day tasks. In humans, maltose is broken down into two glucose molecules by various maltase enzymes. They are broken down further to provide energy or stored as glycogen.