Question

How many enantiomers does glucose $ ? $

Answer 1

Hint: First we have to know that Glucose is the main type of sugar found in the human blood and is the major source of energy for the body's cells. Enantiomers are chemical isomers (chiral molecules) that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other. Whereas, diastereomers are stereoisomers that are not mirror images of each other.

Complete answer:
Stereoisomers (Optical isomers) are two isomers which contain the same number and kinds of atoms, bonds, and different spatial arrangements of the atoms but which have non-superimposable mirror images. Each non-superimposable mirror image structure is called an enantiomer.
Any chiral compound has only one enantiomer. Any other stereoisomers are diastereomers.
Glucose has four chiral carbons in its aldehyde form, and so there are $ {2^4} = 16 $ possible stereoisomers. $ D $ -glucose and $ L $ -glucose are enantiomers while $ \alpha $ - $ D $ -glucose and $ \beta $ - $ D $ -glucose are diastereomers. $ D $ -glucose is the enantiomer commonly found in nature and the common sugar that our bodies use for energy.
Hence, Glucose has two enantiomers.

Note:
Glucose is also known as Blood sugar. Also note that diabetes is a disease in which blood sugar levels are too high. Isomers are molecules that have the same molecular formula but have a different arrangement of the atoms in space.