Why Does the Fischer Projection of Glucose Show Carbon Atoms with Five Bonds?

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SUMMARY

The Fischer projection of D-glucose illustrates the structure of the molecule, including the presence of five bonds on the upper carbon atoms due to the attachment of a hydrogen atom. This hydrogen atom is crucial in the conversion from the aldehyde form of glucose to its cyclic forms, alpha and beta D-glucopyranose. The confusion arises from the representation of the molecule in the Fischer formula, which may not clearly depict all hydrogen atoms. Understanding these structural nuances is essential for accurate representation in biochemistry.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Fischer projections in organic chemistry
  • Knowledge of carbohydrate structures, specifically D-glucose
  • Familiarity with cyclic forms of monosaccharides
  • Basic principles of stereochemistry
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the conversion of aldehydes to cyclic forms in carbohydrates
  • Learn about stereochemistry and its implications in molecular structures
  • Explore the differences between alpha and beta anomers of glucose
  • Investigate the role of hydrogen atoms in organic molecular representations
USEFUL FOR

Students in biochemistry, organic chemistry enthusiasts, and anyone studying carbohydrate chemistry will benefit from this discussion.

Asmaa Mohammad
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Hello,
my book shows this figure of Fischer formula of D-glucose
onrmf.jpg

I don't understand this figure, and I wonder why the upper carbon atoms in both the right and left formulas have 5 bonds.

And from where comes this hedrogen atom in the upper left side of the figure (attached to alpha, D-glucopyranose).

When turning D-glucose to Fischer formula, it seems there's an additional hydrogen atom, isn't it? Why and how this happens?!

Could some one explain for me how the aldehyde form of glucose (the middle structure) to the beta, D-Glucopyranose and the alpha, D-Glucopyranose?
 

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Burn that book!
 
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@DrDu
Why?! It's the book which the biochemistry department in my college provide, and the book I'm supposed to do my final exam according to it.
Could you please give a further explanation? And hopefully you explain for me where is the correct and wrong parts about Fischer formula of glucose!
 

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