(a) The presence of an aldehydic group (-CHO) in glucose is responsible for its ability to undergo oxidation to form acids. The aldehyde group is a functional group that reacts with oxidizing agents, which is a distinguishing feature of aldehydes in organic chemistry.
(b) The presence of five -OH groups in glucose allows it to form hydrogen bonds with other molecules, making glucose highly soluble in water. These hydroxyl groups also play a significant role in glucose's reactivity in various chemical reactions, such as the formation of glycosidic bonds in disaccharides.