What is the structural formulae for the equation for the hydrolysis of lactose?
To determine the structural formula for the hydrolysis of lactose, we first need to understand the structure of lactose itself. Lactose is a disaccharide, consisting of two monosaccharides: glucose and galactose.
The hydrolysis of lactose involves the breaking of the glycosidic bond between glucose and galactose, resulting in the formation of glucose and galactose monomers. The specific type of glycosidic bond in lactose is a β(1→4) linkage, which means that the glucose residue is linked to the galactose residue through a β-glycosidic bond at the carbon 1 position of glucose and the carbon 4 position of galactose.
Therefore, the structural formula for the hydrolysis of lactose can be represented as follows:
Lactose (β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)-D-glucose)
↓
Glucose (D-glucopyranose) + Galactose (D-galactopyranose)
The structural formula of glucose is C6H12O6, and the structural formula of galactose is also C6H12O6. Both glucose and galactose have a six-membered ring structure known as a pyranose ring.
So, in summary, the hydrolysis of lactose results in the formation of glucose and galactose monomers, which have the same structural formula as lactose, C6H12O6, but exist as separate molecules instead of being linked together.