Question

Explain cyclic structure of glucose.

Answer 1

Hint: The answer here is based on the basic concept of forms of glucose molecules that exists in the cyclic structure which is called the Haworth structure or the pyranose structure. This fact can lead you to the required answer.

Complete step by step answer:
We have come across the facts about the glucose and its derivatives that come under the class of carbohydrates.
Let us now see in which other forms this molecule can exist and how the structure looks like.
- To start with, let us see what a glucose molecule is. Glucose is the class of compound that comes under the sub category of carbohydrates and its molecular formula is $C_6{H}_{12}{O}_6$ .
- It is a monosaccharide and is the most abundant molecule that occurs naturally in many plants, algae during the process of photosynthesis. During this process, plants and algae make use of water and carbon dioxide along with energy from sunlight here it is used to make cell walls.
- Glucose has two types of projection that is open chain structure called Fischer projection and the ring structure called Haworth projection.
- Glucose has six carbon atoms and an aldehyde group and hence is an aldohexose. The two structures are as shown below,

Here, the $-OH$ group of fifth carbon of glucose added to the aldehyde group results in the formation of cyclic hemiacetal that is pyranose structure. This projection is called Haworth projection for glucose.

Note: Glucose is the naturally occurring monosaccharide and is found in the fruits and also other parts of the plants in the free state and in the case of animals, the glucose is released because of the breakdown of the glycogen in the process which is called as glycogenolysis. This fact can help you define the process when the questions are asked on this basis.