MCAT Question A Day - 2/10/14 - Answer!

Glucose anomers differ only

A. by their glycosidic linkages.

B. in their number of carbon atoms.

C. in their configuration about carbon-1.

D. in the number of chiral carbons.

The correct answer is (C). Aldoses and their glycosides have cyclic structures that can differ in the configuration about C-1. The C-1—OH is on the right in the a anomer and on the left in the b glucose anomer.

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