Final answer:
The enzyme that breaks apart sucrose is sucrase, which hydrolyzes sucrose into glucose and fructose. Other digestive enzymes like amylase and lactase are also important for breaking down carbohydrates like starch and lactose respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
The predicted name of the enzyme that breaks apart sucrose is sucrase. This enzyme is responsible for the hydrolysis of sucrose, a disaccharide commonly known as table sugar, into glucose and fructose, two monosaccharides that can be readily absorbed by the small intestine. The enzymatic digestion of carbohydrates is a crucial part of the digestive process, with other enzymes like amylase, which breaks down starch and glycogen, and lactase, which breaks down lactose, playing key roles as well.
Enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of disaccharides are termed hydrolases, and sucrase is classified as such because it catalyzes the breakage of sucrose with the addition of water. After sucrose is broken down by sucrase in the small intestinal wall, the resultant glucose and fructose are transported across the intestinal epithelium into the bloodstream and then to various cells in the body for metabolism.