Alpha glucose and Beta glucose (1 Viewer)

[-::Sanni::-]

Okay, I know this should be in the Forensics section but not many people look there! XP

Anyway, do we need to know about alpha and beta glucose? If we do, what is the difference between them?

 

[danz90]

Yeah, just remember that alpha-glucose and beta-glucose are kind of inverse of each other. One the HO-H groups on the alpha-glucose molecules is kind of like the other way around in beta-glucose.
Also, beta-glucose allows for cellulose to be formed because the beta-glucose monomers rotate themselves 180 degrees in relation to the adjacent monomer, so the bulky CH₂-OH groups are on opposite ends (ie they dont interact).
Alpha-glucose monomers join to form starch, which kinda looks like a telephone cord (spiralling).
Here's some diagrams to make things more clear;

 

[r.uss]

Jah!

alpha-glucose has the hydroxide group on the carobyl atom on the opposite side of the CH2OH group, while beta-glucose has the hydroxide group on the same side.

Thats the only difference!

 

[Harkaraj]

Can this also be asked in Production of Materials? as there are a few dot points revolving around cellulose and glucose etc

 

[eddy11]

Can this also be asked in Production of Materials? as there are a few dot points revolving around cellulose and glucose etc

we should know the structure of cellulose and show its a condensation polymer, dont really need to have a good understanding of glucose's structure