Question #db6d2

1 Answer
Jan 22, 2018

Euhh...
Only one I'm afraid...

Explanation:

Glucose is an aldohexose.

As these each have 4 chiral centres, there can be, and are 16 possible combinations.

The FIFTH C-atom determines whether it is the D- or th L-enantiomer, so that effectively leaves us with 8 pairs:

- (D/L) Allose
- (D/L) Altrose;
- (D/L) Glucose;
- (D/L)Mannose
- (D/L)Gulose;
- (D/L)Idose;
- (D/L)Galactose;
- (D/L)Talose..

So, Glucose has only one chiral centre: Carbon atom nr. 5, which determines the D/L configuration for any of the sugars mentioned above..

Alterations in the stereochemistry of any other carbon changes the identity of the molecule from ( D- or L-) Glucose into another sugar altogether.....