How is sucrose hydrolyzed to glucose&fructose?
Sucrose, commonly known as table sugar, is an organic compound made up of one molecule of fructose and one molecule of glucose joined in a chemical bond. In a process known as hydrolysis, this bond breaks, resulting in individual molecules of fructose and glucose.The Glycosidic BondThe chemical link that connects the glucose and fructose particles is called a glycosidic bond. This bond forms with the removal of a water molecule through a process called a condensation reaction, the opposite of hydrolysis.Need for WaterHydrolysis requires the addition of one molecule of water for every molecule of sucrose to break the glycosidic bond. The process is slow when only atmospheric water is available. For example, sugar stored in a pantry at room temperature can sit for years without any noticeable change.EnzymesThe addition of enzymes to sucrose helps accelerate the rate of hydrolysis. For example, sucrase in the small intestine helps break down sucrose into fructose and glucose, which are ea
