It has its carbonyl group at its number two carbon (its a ketone function group). The structure is an intramolecular hemiacetal. The chemical formula of fructose is also C 6H 12O 6 but the bonding of fructose is very different than that of glucose. Fructose was first discovered by a French chemist Augustin – Pierre Debrunfaut. It is also abundantly present in honey and corn syrup. Generally, fructose bonds with glucose to form a disaccharide we know as sucrose. We mostly find fructose in plants and their fruits, flowers and root vegetables, hence earning it a moniker of fruit sugar. This chemical reaction is as followsĬ 12H 22O 11 + H 2O -> C 6H 12O 6 + C 6H 12O 6įructose is a simple ketonic monosaccharide. Also, another way of preparing glucose, with fructose as a joint or by-product, is to boil sucrose in dilute HCl or even H2SO4 in an alcoholic solution.On a large and commercial scale glucose is prepared from hydrolysis of starch by boiling it with dilute H2SO4.Let us look at how we can prepare glucose from these sources We obtain glucose mainly from two sources which are starch and sucrose. It is an aldohexose, which means it has six carbon atoms in its molecule. We obtain a large part of the energy in our bodies from glucose through the foods we eat. We can find glucose in varies fruits, honey and even in starch and cane sugar. It is the most abundant organic compound on earth. The most abundant monosaccharide found in nature is in fact glucose. This is another reason we call monosaccharides simple sugars. The molecule of monosaccharides is very small and compact in size. The molecule is always formed by three elements and three elements only: Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H) and Oxygen (O).

The chemical formula that most monosaccharides have is C x(H2O) y, where generally x≥ 3. This following table will make the names easy to remember Number of Carbon Atoms There is also additional classification on the number of carbon atoms each molecule consists of. And if they contain a keto group we call them “ketose”. So if they contain an aldehyde group they are known as “aldose”. Monosaccharides have two broad classifications on the basis of the functional group present in them. You can download Biomolecules Cheat Sheet PDF by clicking on Download Button Below They are defined as any carbohydrates (or sugars) that cannot be hydrolyzed any further to give simpler sugars. They are hence known as the most basic unit of carbohydrates. Now monosaccharides are nothing but the simplest form or classification of carbohydrates. We have already learned about carbohydrates and what constitutes a carbohydrate.

Glucose structure download