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Glucose is a simple sugar and one of the most important carbohydrates found in nature. It serves as a primary energy source for living organisms and plays a central role in metabolic processes such as cellular respiration. The molecular formula of glucose is C₆H₁₂O₆, meaning that each glucose molecule contains 6 carbon atoms, 12 hydrogen atoms, and 6 oxygen atoms.
Glucose belongs to the class of monosaccharides, which are the simplest form of carbohydrates. Its molecular composition reflects a general formula for simple sugars, (CH₂O)ₙ, where n = 6 for glucose. This formula indicates that glucose is made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in the ratio of 1:2:1.
Let’s examine the other options:
NH₃ (Ammonia): A compound of nitrogen and hydrogen, not a carbohydrate.
C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁ (Sucrose): This is the formula for a disaccharide (table sugar), not glucose.
C₆H₆ (Benzene): An aromatic hydrocarbon, completely unrelated to carbohydrates.
The correct formula, C₆H₁₂O₆, is essential in analytical chemistry because it is used in molecular mass calculations (180 amu), solution concentration preparations, and stoichiometric analysis of biochemical reactions. Glucose has both a linear structure and a ring structure in aqueous solutions, but its molecular formula remains unchanged
Understanding the molecular formula of glucose helps students recognize how carbohydrates are built from carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms, and how these molecules contribute to biological energy storage and metabolic reactions. This knowledge is fundamental in chemistry, biochemistry, and medical sciences, where glucose is a key molecule in understanding energy production and blood sugar regulation.
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