What are the hydrolysis products of Maltose?

The correct answer is Option (3) → α-D-Glucose + α-D-Glucose

Disaccharides are made of two monosaccharide units joined by an oxide link called the glycosidic linkage. Hydrolysis with a dilute acid or an enzyme breaks this link and gives back the two units. The three common disaccharides are:

• Sucrose: α-D-glucose + β-D-fructose, joined C1 (glucose) to C2 (fructose); a non-reducing sugar.

• Maltose: two α-D-glucose units, joined C1 of one unit to C4 of the other; a reducing sugar, because C1 of the second unit can give a free aldehyde group.

• Lactose (milk sugar): β-D-galactose + β-D-glucose, joined C1 (galactose) to C4 (glucose); a reducing sugar.

Maltose is hydrolysed by dilute acid or by the enzyme maltase:

    \( \displaystyle \ce{C12H22O11 + H2O} \xrightarrow{\ce{H^+}\text{ or maltase}} \ce{2C6H12O6} \)

So the hydrolysis products of maltose are α-D-glucose + α-D-glucose.

NCERT (2026-27 edition):
Disaccharides – “(ii) Maltose: Another disaccharide, maltose is composed of two α-D-glucose units in which C1 of one glucose (I) is linked to C4 of another glucose unit (II). The free aldehyde group can be produced at C1 of second glucose in solution and it shows reducing properties so it is a reducing sugar.”