Raffinose is a

Options

A. Monosaccharide
B. Disaccharide
C. Trisaccharide
D. Tetrasaccharide.

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Raffinose**: Raffinose is a type of carbohydrate. To classify it, we need to know how many monosaccharide units it contains.

2. **Chemical Formula**: The chemical formula of raffinose is C18H32O16. This formula indicates that it is a carbohydrate.

3. **Hydrolysis of Raffinose**: When raffinose undergoes hydrolysis, it breaks down into simpler sugars. Specifically, it produces three monosaccharides: glucose, fructose, and galactose.

4. **Classification of Carbohydrates**: Carbohydrates can be classified based on the number of monosaccharide units:
- Monosaccharides: 1 unit (e.g., glucose)
- Disaccharides: 2 units (e.g., sucrose)
- Trisaccharides: 3 units (e.g., raffinose)
- Oligosaccharides: 3-10 units

5. **Conclusion**: Since raffinose yields three monosaccharides upon hydrolysis, it is classified as a trisaccharide. Additionally, since it falls within the range of 3-10 monosaccharides, it is also considered an oligosaccharide.

6. **Sources of Raffinose**: Raffinose is commonly found in foods such as beans, cabbage, and broccoli.

**Final Answer**: Raffinose is a trisaccharide.

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