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Multiple Choice
What is the key difference between the sugars ribose and deoxyribose?
A
Deoxyribose is a disaccharide, while ribose is a monosaccharide.
B
Ribose is a ketose, while deoxyribose is an aldose.
C
Deoxyribose has one more carbon atom than ribose.
D
Ribose has one more oxygen atom than deoxyribose.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the chemical structure of ribose: Ribose is a pentose sugar, which means it has five carbon atoms. Its chemical formula is C₅H₁₀O₅.
Identify the chemical structure of deoxyribose: Deoxyribose is also a pentose sugar with five carbon atoms, but its chemical formula is C₅H₁₀O₄.
Compare the chemical formulas: Notice that ribose has one more oxygen atom than deoxyribose. Ribose has five oxygen atoms, while deoxyribose has four.
Understand the structural difference: The 'deoxy' prefix in deoxyribose indicates the absence of one oxygen atom compared to ribose. This missing oxygen is typically at the 2' position in the sugar ring.
Conclude the key difference: The key difference between ribose and deoxyribose is that ribose has one more oxygen atom than deoxyribose, which is crucial for their roles in biological molecules like RNA and DNA.