MCAT Mnemonics: Disaccharides

Ken Tao is the MedSchoolCoach expert on MCAT, and will discuss that “super glowing frogs leave gardens glowing” is a mnemonic that can help you remember that Sucrose = Glucose + Fructose, and that Lactose = Galactose + Glucose.

Full Transcription

Welcome back to another episode of MCAT Mnemonic Monday. My name is Ken and I’m an MCAT expert with MedSchoolCoach. Today we have an organic chemistry mnemonic for you on disaccharides.

You’ll likely recall from your organic chemistry classes that carbohydrates are one of the four types of biological macro molecules. The building block or the unit of carbohydrates is called the monosaccharide. It’s possible for you to take a couple of monosaccharides snd link them together to form a disaccharide.

You can also link many monosaccharides molecules together to form a polysaccharide.

For the MCAT, it’s important for you to be familiar with the important disaccharides. Especially sucrose and lactose.

Sucrose is table sugar. It’s a disaccharide made from glucose and fructose. These are two monosaccharides.

Lactose is a disaccharide that is found in many milk products. You might have heard of some individuals becoming lactose intolerant as they grew up. Lactose as the disaccharide involved with this intolerance.

It’s a disaccharides made from galactose and glucose – two monosaccharides linked together.

Our mnemonic today is going to help you remember what these two disaccharides are made of in terms of their monosaccharide units. The mnemonic is: “super glowing frogs leave gardens glowing.”

“Super glowing frogs” is for sucrose, glucose and fructose. Alright. Super glowing frogs.

“Leave gardens glowing” is for lactose, galactose, and glucose.

So this way, if you use super glowing frogs leave gardens glowing, it’s gonna help you keep track of when these two disaccharide are made of for the MCAT.