Chapter 3, Problem 1VCQ

Figure 3.5 What kind of sugars are these, aldose

or ketose?

Summary Introduction

To analyze:

Kinds of aldose and ketose sugars.

Introduction:

Aldose and ketose are simple carbohydrates molecules, made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen molecules. Both aldose and ketose are monosaccharides. Aldose sugar shows an aldehyde group in its carbon chain, while ketose sugar shows a carbonyl group in its side chain. .

Explanation of Solution

Carbohydrates are one of the most important biomolecules, present in the living organisms. Main constituents of carbohydrates are oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon. Hence, carbohydrates are also known as hydrates of carbon. Aldose and ketose show the simple class of carbohydrates, known as monosaccharides (made up of one monomer).

Aldose sugars show a class of sugars, which have a functional aldehyde group (-CHO) in their structures. Glucose and galactose are examples of aldose sugars. Ketose sugars are simple sugar molecules, having a functional ketone or carbonyl group (-CO) in their structures. Fructose and ribulose are examples of ketose sugars.

Conclusion

Thus, it can be concluded that the aldose sugars have aldehyde groups, while ketose sugars have carbonyl groups as their functional groups.