Final answer:
Disaccharides consist of two monosaccharides linked by glycosidic bonds formed via dehydration synthesis. Examples include sucrose, maltose, and lactose, important to human nutrition and broken down during digestion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Disaccharides are a type of carbohydrate that consist of two monosaccharides linked together. They are formed through a process known as dehydration synthesis, where a water molecule is removed to create a new bond called a glycosidic bond.
The three primary examples of disaccharides that are significant to human nutrition include sucrose (table sugar, composed of glucose + fructose), maltose (malt sugar, made of two glucose molecules), and lactose (milk sugar, composed of glucose + galactose).
These disaccharides cannot be directly utilized by the body but are broken down into their monosaccharide components via the process of hydrolysis in the digestive tract.