Question

The functional groups involved in the conversion of glucose to gluconic acid and gluconic acid to saccharic acid respectively are:

• A.

  

• B.

  

• C.

  

• D.

  

Hint:

Oxidation reactions often involve the conversion of aldehyde groups to carboxylic acids, which is seen in the conversion of glucose to gluconic acid and further to saccharic acid.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Glucose is an aldohexose, which means it has an aldehyde functional group (-CHO) and six carbon atoms. Gluconic acid is obtained by the oxidation of the aldehyde group in glucose to a carboxylic acid group (-COOH). Saccharic acid is a dicarboxylic acid, which means it has two carboxylic acid groups. It is obtained by the further oxidation of gluconic acid. In this oxidation, the primary alcohol group (-CH\(_2\)OH) at the other end of the molecule is oxidized to a carboxylic acid group. Therefore, the functional groups involved in the conversion of glucose to gluconic acid and gluconic acid to saccharic acid are -CHO and -CH\(_2\)OH, respectively.