Question

What happens when D-glucose is treated with the following reagents?

Hint:

HI is a reducing agent that reduces glucose, while concentrated HNO3} is an oxidizing agent that converts glucose into glucaric acid, an important process in organic chemistry.

Answer 1

When D-glucose is treated with HI (hydriodic acid), it undergoes reduction to form hexyl iodide, breaking down into a mixture of smaller molecules such as hexane and iodine. This reaction is a reduction process where the aldehyde group in glucose is reduced. When D-glucose is treated with concentrated nitric acid (HNO3}), it undergoes oxidation, converting the aldehyde group to a carboxylic acid group, resulting in the formation of glucaric acid. This oxidation occurs at the aldehyde functional group.