Glycosidic bonds between sugars are named according to the numbers of the connected carbons, and with regard to the position of the anomeric hydroxyl group of the sugar involved in the bond. If this anomeric hydroxyl is in the α configuration, the linkage is an α-bond. If it is in the β config - uration, the linkage is a β-bond. Lactose, for example, is synthe- sized by forming a glycosidic bond between carbon 1 of β-gal ac tose and carbon 4 of glucose. The linkage is, therefore, a β(1→4) glycosidic bond (see Figure 7.3). [Note: Because the anomeric end of the glucose residue is not involved in the glyco- sidic linkage it (and, therefore, lactose) remains a reducing sugar.