Question

carbohydrates are also known as saccharides. the word saccharide is a term derived from the greek word sakcharon, meaning sugar. though not all carbohydrates are sweet, many simple sugars, or monosaccharides, are sweet to the taste.

image of glucose chemical structure

the model shows the chemical structure of a monosaccharide called glucose.

glucose has a 6 - atom ring shape. this means it has 6 atoms arranged in a hexagon, and each of those 6 atoms bonds with other atoms. in glucose, the 6 - atom ring is formed by one oxygen atom and 5 carbon atoms. but like in this model, people dont always label the carbon atoms.

what is the chemical formula of glucose?

c□h□o□

Explanation:

Step1: Count Carbon Atoms

The glucose ring has 5 carbon atoms in the ring (plus one? Wait, no, the standard glucose structure: the ring is 6 - membered with 5 C and 1 O. Wait, let's analyze the given structure. The ring: each corner (except O) is C. Let's count: the ring has 5 C (since O is one, and the ring is 6 - atom: 5 C and 1 O). Then, the $CH_2OH$ group: that's one more C. So total C: 6.

Step2: Count Hydrogen Atoms

Let's look at each group:
- $CH_2OH$: 2 H (from $CH_2$) + 1 H? Wait, no, $CH_2OH$ has C, 2 H, O, H? Wait, no, $CH_2OH$ is C - H₂ - O - H? Wait, no, the formula for $CH_2OH$ is C with 2 H, 1 O, 1 H (so 3 H? Wait, no: C is bonded to H₂ (2 H), O, and then O is bonded to H. Wait, maybe better to use the standard glucose formula or count from the structure.
Looking at the structure:
- The $CH_2OH$ group: C, 2 H (from $CH_2$), 1 O, 1 H (from OH) → but in terms of H atoms: let's count each H:
- $CH_2OH$: 2 H (on C) + 1 H (on OH) = 3 H? Wait, no, $CH_2OH$ is C - H₂ - O - H, so H atoms: 2 (from $CH_2$) + 1 (from OH) = 3?
- Then the other H atoms:
- The H on the left - most: 1 H.
- The H on the top (next to $CH_2OH$): 1 H.
- The H on the $OH$? No, $OH$ is O - H, but we count H. Wait, maybe a better way: the standard glucose formula is $C_6H_{12}O_6$. Let's verify by counting:
Each C (except the $CH_2OH$) has:
- The ring C atoms:
- The C with $OH$ (left of $CH_2OH$): bonded to H, OH, and two ring bonds. So H: 1.
- The C with $H$ (next to the left - most H): bonded to H, and two ring bonds, and? Wait, maybe this is getting too complicated. The standard chemical formula for glucose is $C_6H_{12}O_6$. Let's count O atoms:

Step3: Count Oxygen Atoms

- The ring has 1 O.
- The $CH_2OH$ has 1 O.
- The $OH$ groups: let's count the $OH$ groups:
- $CH_2OH$: 1 O (in OH).
- The $OH$ on the right - most: 1 O.
- The $OH$ at the bottom: 1 O.
- The $OH$ on the left (next to the left - most H): 1 O.
- Wait, no, looking at the structure:
- $CH_2OH$: 1 O (in $CH_2OH$).
- Ring O: 1 O.
- $OH$ on the right: 1 O.
- $OH$ at the bottom: 1 O.
- $OH$ on the left (the $HO$ group? Wait, the left - most is $HO$: that's O - H, so O.
- Wait, no, the structure has:
- $CH_2OH$: O.
- Ring O: O.
- $OH$ (right): O.
- $OH$ (bottom): O.
- $OH$ (left, the $HO$ group): O.
- And the $OH$ on the C with $H$ (the middle C with $OH$): O. Wait, no, let's count O atoms:
- $CH_2OH$: 1 O.
- Ring O: 1 O.
- $OH$ (right): 1 O.
- $OH$ (bottom): 1 O.
- $OH$ (left, $HO$): 1 O.
- The $OH$ on the C with $H$ (the middle C with $OH$): 1 O. Wait, that's 6 O? Wait, no, maybe I'm overcounting. Wait, the standard glucose formula is $C_6H_{12}O_6$. Let's confirm:
Carbon atoms: 6 (5 in the ring + 1 in $CH_2OH$).
Hydrogen atoms: Let's use the formula. Each C (except the $CH_2OH$) has:
- The $CH_2OH$ C: bonded to 2 H (from $CH_2$), 1 O, and 1 bond to the ring. So H: 2 (from $CH_2$) + 1 (from OH? No, $CH_2OH$ is C - H₂ - O - H, so H: 2 + 1 = 3? Wait, no, $CH_2OH$ is C with 2 H, 1 O, and 1 H (from OH), so 3 H? But the standard glucose has 12 H. Let's count all H:
- $CH_2OH$: 2 H (on C) + 1 H (on OH) = 3 H.
- The H on the left - most: 1 H.
- The H on the top (next to $CH_2OH$): 1 H.
- The H on the C with $OH$ (left of center): 1 H.
- The H at the bottom (left of center): 1 H.
- The H on the right - most: 1 H.
- Then the $OH$ groups: each $OH$ has 1 H, and there are 5 $OH$ groups? Wait, no, the structure has:
- $CH_2OH$: 1 OH (1 H).
- $OH$ on the right - most: 1 H.
- $OH$ at the bottom: 1 H.
- $OH$ on the left (the $HO$ group): 1 H.
- $OH$ on the C with $H$ (middle left): 1 H.
Wait, that's 5 OH groups (5 H) plus the H on the C atoms:
- $CH_2OH$ C: 2 H.
- The other C atoms:
- Left - most C (with $HO$): 1 H.
- Top C (next to $CH_2OH$): 1 H.
- Middle left C (with $OH$): 1 H.
- Bottom left C: 1 H.
- Right - most C: 1 H.
Wait, that's 2 (from $CH_2OH$ C) + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 7 H from C atoms, plus 5 H from OH groups: 7 + 5 = 12 H. Yes! So H: 12.
Oxygen atoms: Let's count the O atoms:
- $CH_2OH$: 1 O.
- Ring O: 1 O.
- $OH$ on the right - most: 1 O.
- $OH$ at the bottom: 1 O.
- $OH$ on the left (the $HO$ group): 1 O.
- $OH$ on the middle left C: 1 O.
Total O: 6.
So the formula is $C_6H_{12}O_6$.

Answer:

$C_6H_{12}O_6$ (so for the blanks: C\(6\), H\(12\), O\(6\))