Profile
Settings
Refer your friends
Sign out
Carbohydrates are organic compounds that are a major source of energy for all living organisms. The molecule of any type of carbohydrate is essentially made up of three elements – Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), and Oxygen (O).
Carbohydrates are of two types – monosaccharides and disaccharides. Monosaccharides are poly- hydroxy-aldehydes or ketones, generally with an unbranched C-chain. Disaccharides are formed as a result of the dehydration reaction. There are many classifications of monosaccharide carbohydrates. All types with the suffix ‘ose’ are monosaccharides – Glucose and fructose are the two most abundant and common types of monosaccharide carbohydrates. Let us look at the comparison of fructose and glucose.
Glucose
Glucose is a monosaccharide. It is a simple sugar. The chemical reaction for glucose is C6H12O6. It is called aldohexose because it is an aldehyde group and has six carbon atoms. It can exist in an acyclic form which is an open-chain form, or in a cyclic form, which is a ring form. Photosynthesis is the process of producing glucose in green plants and algae. These plants use water, sunlight, and carbon dioxide and produce glucose in the presence of photosynthesis. Animals obtain glucose inside their bodies by the process of glycogenolysis.
Physical properties of glucose
Glucose has a molar mass of 180.156 g/mol.
Its density is 1.54 g/cm³.
Its melting point is 146 °C.
Uses of glucose
Glucose is used to treat patients with hypoglycemia (low blood pressure).
It is used to provide energy to patients who cannot be fed orally.
To suppress increased potassium levels in the blood.
Fructose
Fructose, a simple ketonic monosaccharide, can be described as fruit sugar. The chemical reaction for fructose is C6H12O6 It is a ketohexose that occurs naturally. They are also called levulose because of their optical rotation. Augustin-Pierre Debrunfaut was the first to discover fruit sugar. It is obtained from common sources and consumed everywhere. But excess consumption of fructose can lead to problems like obesity and insulin resistance. Unlike other sugars, fructose is comparatively easier to digest and more soluble in water than other sugars. For commercial purposes, it is obtained from sugar cane, beets and maize.
Physical features of fructose
At room temperature, it is in the structure of a white crystal.
It has a very sticky texture.
The melting point of fructose is 103℃.
Fructose is odourless.
It is a humectant, which means it can hold moisture.
The molar mass of fructose is 180.156 g.mol-1.
Fructose is highly hygroscopic. This means it is capable of absorbing moisture from the surroundings.
It has a sweet taste.
Uses of fructose
The uses of fructose are:
It is used as a source of sweeteners for diabetic patients, in the form of stevia.
Fructose is used to increase the shelf life of certain snacks.
It is used as an ingredient in many infant food formulas.
It is used in the manufacturing of corn syrup.
It is an important ingredient in energy drinks.
Comparison of Fructose and Glucose
After briefing upon the attributes of glucose and fructose, let us now draw a broad comparison between them. The comparison between the two carbohydrates is given in the table below –
Glucose | Fructose |
It is called aldohexose because it is an aldehyde group and has six atoms of carbon. | It is a ketohexose that occurs naturally. Because of their optical rotation, they are also called levulose. |
The melting point of glucose is 146 °C. | The melting point of fructose is 103℃. |
It is referred to as grape sugar. | It is referred to as fruit sugar. |
To initiate metabolism, glucose depends upon hexokinase. | To initiate metabolism, fructose depends upon fructokinase. |
Glucose produces less fat in comparison. | Fructose produces less fat. |
It has a ring of six members. | It has a ring of five members. |
Glucose is a preferred source of energy for organisms. | Fructose is not considered a preferable source of energy for the organism. |
The type of ring structure formed by glucose is pyranose. | Fructose forms a furan ring structure. |
Examples of applications of glucose are:
| Examples of application of fructose are:
|
Less lipogenic in comparison to fructose. | Fructose is more lipogenic. |
Conclusion
In summary, glucose and fructose are two very common yet important types of carbohydrates. They are the two most abundant and common types of monosaccharide carbohydrates. Fructose is a simple ketonic monosaccharide described as fruit sugar. It is a ketohexose that occurs naturally. Glucose is classified as an aldohexose because it belongs to an aldehyde group and has six atoms of carbon. It is described as grape sugar. Glucose and fructose have different physical properties and uses.
