Final answer:
The bond connecting two monosaccharides to form a disaccharide is called a glycosidic bond, which can be of the alpha or beta type based on the orientation of the OH group on the glucose molecule.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of bond connecting two monosaccharides to form a disaccharide is called a glycosidic bond. When two monosaccharides undergo a dehydration reaction, they release a molecule of water and create this covalent bond. The glycosidic bond can be either an alpha or beta type, depending on the orientation of the OH group on the carbon-1 of the glucose molecule.
In alpha bonds, the OH group is below the plane of the glucose ring, whereas in beta bonds, the OH group is above the plane of the ring. Such bonds are critical in linking sugars to form complex carbohydrates, and understanding glycosidic bonds is essential to grasping how carbohydrates are broken down and utilized in the body.