The Two Forms of Glucose
- The most well-known carbohydrate monomer is glucose ATP
- Glucose has the molecular formula C6H12O6
- Glucose is the most common monosaccharide and is of central importance to most forms of life
- There are different types of monosaccharide formed from molecules with varying numbers of carbon atom, for example:
- Trioses (3C) eg. glyceraldehyde
- Pentoses (5C) eg. ribose
- Hexoses (6C) eg. glucose
- Glucose exists in two structurally different forms – alpha (α) glucose and beta (β) glucose and is therefore known as an isomer
- This structural variety results in different functions between carbohydrates
Straight chain and ring structural formula of alpha & beta glucose
- Different polysaccharides are formed from the two isomers of glucose
Structure of Polysaccharides Table
Examiner Tip
You must be able to recognise and draw the isomers of α and β glucose.
