Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Monosaccharides
Monosaccharides are the simplest form of carbohydrates, consisting of single sugar units. They serve as the building blocks for more complex carbohydrates like disaccharides and polysaccharides. Common examples include glucose, fructose, and galactose, which can vary in structure and functional groups, influencing their properties and biological roles.
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Classification of Monosaccharides
Monosaccharides can be classified based on the number of carbon atoms they contain and the functional groups present. They are typically categorized as aldoses, which have an aldehyde group, or ketoses, which have a ketone group. Additionally, they can be further classified into trioses, tetroses, pentoses, and hexoses, depending on whether they have three, four, five, or six carbon atoms, respectively.
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Structural Isomerism
Structural isomerism refers to the phenomenon where compounds with the same molecular formula have different structural arrangements. In monosaccharides, this can lead to different isomers, such as D- and L- forms, which are mirror images of each other. Understanding structural isomerism is crucial for classifying monosaccharides accurately, as different isomers can have distinct biochemical properties and functions.
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Monosaccharides - D and L Isomerism