JEE Main · 2019 · Shift-ImediumBIO-058

Glucose and galactose are having identical configuration in all the positions except position

Biomolecules · Class 12 · JEE Main Previous Year Question

Question

Glucose and galactose are having identical configuration in all the positions except position

Options
  1. a

    C3\text{C}-3

  2. b

    C2\text{C}-2

  3. c

    C4\text{C}-4

  4. d

    C5\text{C}-5

Correct Answerc

C4\text{C}-4

Detailed Solution

Step 1: Structural ComparisonD-glucose\text{D-glucose} and D-galactose\text{D-galactose} are both aldohexoses that share identifying features across most of their structures.

Step 2: Identifying the Difference — They differ only in the configuration of the hydroxyl group on the fourth carbon (C4\text{C4}).

Step 3: Epimer Definition — Pairs like these that differ at a single chiral center are called epimers. Thus, glucose and galactose are C4 epimers\text{C4 epimers}.

Key Point: Similarly, glucose and mannose are C2 epimers\text{C2 epimers}.

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