Final answer:
The carbohydrate that results in equal amounts of glucose and galactose upon digestion is lactose. It is a disaccharide consisting of one glucose and one galactose molecule, and is broken down by lactase in the small intestine.
Step-by-step explanation:
If digestion of a carbohydrate results in equal amounts of glucose and galactose, this carbohydrate is probably lactose. During digestion, the disaccharide lactose, which is commonly found in milk, is hydrolyzed by the enzyme lactase producing a molecule of glucose and a molecule of galactose. This process occurs in the small intestine where various enzymes such as sucrase, maltase, and lactase break down carbohydrates (sucrose, maltose, and lactose respectively) into monosaccharide units that are absorbed through the intestinal wall and into the bloodstream.
It's important to note that the digestion of other disaccharides, like sucrose and maltose, result in different monosaccharides. Sucrose is broken down into glucose and fructose, while maltose is broken down into two glucose molecules. Therefore, knowing the composition of these carbohydrates is essential for identifying the source based on the end-products of digestion.