could you explain the meaning of the phrase

glycoside c-1
to c-4 linkage
this is in regard to the structural formula of lactose

many thanks

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactose

thanks that was a real great help now i understand

I'm glad the information I provided was helpful! Now, let's go a little deeper to understand the meaning of the phrase "glycoside C-1 to C-4 linkage" in the context of the structural formula of lactose.

In organic chemistry, sugars like lactose are often represented by structural formulas, which use lines and letters to represent the different atoms and connections between them. In the case of lactose, it is composed of two sugar molecules - glucose and galactose - linked together.

The phrase "glycoside C-1 to C-4 linkage" refers to how the two sugar molecules are connected. The "glycoside" part means that the linkage is formed between the anomeric carbon (C-1) of one sugar molecule and the hydroxyl group (C-4) of the other sugar molecule.

To understand this linkage, it is helpful to look at the structural formula of lactose. The glucose molecule in lactose has a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to its C-1 carbon, while the galactose molecule has a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to its C-4 carbon. The linkage occurs when the oxygen atom from the hydroxyl group of the galactose molecule connects to the anomeric carbon (C-1) of the glucose molecule, forming an oxygen bridge between the two sugars.

This glycosidic linkage between the C-1 and C-4 carbons gives lactose its specific structure, and it is this linkage that allows lactose to be broken down by the enzyme lactase in order to be digested.

If you would like to explore more about lactose or have any further questions, you can refer to the provided Wikipedia link on lactose - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactose.