Which two compounds are recognized as disaccharides?

Disaccharides are carbohydrates composed of two monosaccharide units linked together by a glycosidic bond. In the case of maltose, it is formed from two glucose molecules. Sucrose is made up of one glucose and one fructose molecule. Both of these compounds fit the definition of disaccharides due to their specific structures and the way they are formed.

Maltose results from the hydrolysis of starch and is commonly found in malted foods and beverages. Sucrose is table sugar and is widely present in many plants. They play essential roles in energy metabolism in various organisms.

The other options consist of compounds that do not meet the disaccharide classification. For instance, hyaluronic acid is a polysaccharide, glycogen is a branched polysaccharide used for energy storage, and starch is another polysaccharide, primarily consisting of multiple glucose units. Glucose, on its own, is a monosaccharide. Thus, the correct identification of maltose and sucrose as disaccharides highlights their significance in biochemistry.