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Chapter 16: Problem 32

The number of asymmetric carbon atoms in a molecule of glucose is (1) 6 (2) 4 (3) 5 (4) 3

Short Answer

Expert verified
The number of asymmetric carbon atoms in a glucose molecule is 4.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Asymmetric Carbons

An asymmetric carbon (also known as a chiral carbon) is a carbon atom that is attached to four different atoms or groups of atoms.
02

Structure of Glucose

Glucose has a chemical formula of C_6H_{12}O_6. The structure of a glucose molecule consists of a chain of six carbon atoms.
03

Identifying Carbons in Glucose

Label the carbon atoms in the glucose molecule from C1 to C6. Examine each carbon to see which ones are attached to four different groups.
04

Check Each Carbon

C1 is attached to an H, OH, a C2, and an O. C2 through C5 are each attached to an H, OH, and two C atoms that form either an aldehyde group (C1) or part of a chain. C6 has two H and is not asymmetric.
05

Count Asymmetric Carbons

Carbons C2 through C5 in glucose are all connected to four different groups. Thus, there are 4 asymmetric carbons in the glucose molecule.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

chiral carbon
In organic chemistry, a chiral carbon鈥攁lso known as an asymmetric carbon鈥攊s a carbon atom that is bonded to four different atoms or groups of atoms. This unique bonding creates a non-superimposable mirror image, similar to your left and right hands. When we say a carbon is chiral, it means that the molecule can exist in two forms (enantiomers) that are mirror images of each other. Understanding chiral carbons is important in fields like pharmacology because different enantiomers of a drug can have very different effects in the body.
glucose structure
Glucose is a simple sugar with the chemical formula \text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6. This molecule consists of a chain of six carbon atoms, each connected to different groups. The specific arrangement of these atoms is what gives glucose its unique properties. In a solution, glucose can exist in an open-chain form or in a cyclic form commonly found in two forms: \(\text{alpha-glucose}\) and \(\text{beta-glucose}\).
identifying asymmetric carbons
To identify asymmetric carbons in glucose, we need to look closely at each carbon atom in the backbone of the molecule and check their attachments. We label the carbons from \(\text{C}_1\) to \(\text{C}_6\). Only the carbons \(\text{C}_2\) to \(\text{C}_5\) each have four different substituents:
  • C1 is attached to a hydrogen (H), a hydroxyl group (OH), a carbon (C2), and an oxygen (O).
  • C2 through C5 each have an H, an OH, and two different carbon groups.
  • C6 has two hydrogens and is thus not chiral.
By counting these, we find that glucose has 4 asymmetric carbons.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Meso tartaric acid is optically inactive becausc of the prescnce (1) molecular symmetry. (2) molccular asymmetry. (3) cxternal compensation. (4) two asymmetric carbon atoms.

An optically active alkene with molecular formula \(\mathbf{C}_{6} \mathrm{H}_{12}\) which upon hydrogenation gives optically inactive alkane is (1) 2 -methyl- 2 -pentene (2) 3-methyl-2-pentene (3) 2 -hexene (4) 3-methyl- 1 -pentene

The reason of the loss of optically activity of lactic acid when \(O H\) group is exchanged by \(H\) is that (1) asymmetry of the molecule is destroyed. (2) symmetry of the molecule is destroyed. (3) structural change occurs. (4) spatial arrangement is changed.

An important chemical method to resolve a racemic mixturc makes use of the formation of (1) meso compound (2) cnantiomer (3) racemers (4) diastereoisomers

The necessary and sufficient condition for a molecule to be optically active is that (1) it must contain asymmetric carbon atoms. (2) it must be asymmetric. (3) it must be identical with its mirror image. (4) it must be nonidentical with its mirror image.
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