Glucose monohydrate is a white crystalline powder. It is a natural sugar that is widely used in the food industry. It can be produced from the hydrolysis of corn starch.
The glucose molecule can be in either a ring or open-chain form. In the open-chain form, it has an unbranched backbone of six carbon atoms. However, the molecule in this form accounts for only 0.25% of the total number of glucose molecules in an aqueous solution.
Glucose is a common source of energy for many organisms. It is stored in the liver and muscle as glycogen. It is transported throughout the animal body by blood and lymph. Some of the glucose is also taken up by the intestinal tract. When the body's glycogen stores are low, the liver can convert the glucose to lactic acid.
Glucose is the most common form of aldohexose found in living organisms. This substance is used as a starting point for several important metabolic pathways. Glucose also serves as a precursor to the production of several substances.
The hydroxyl group at the C-5 position forms a hemiacetal bond with a corresponding aldehyde group at the C-1 position. Both of these groups are placed in an equatorial position.
A molecule in the cyclic form of glucose is more stable than the open-chain form. The rate of glycation is therefore lower. As a result, glucose has less tendency to react with amine groups in proteins.
Glucose is the major source of energy for the human body. Many people carry a small amount of sugar in their bloodstream.