how does glucose act as a reducing agent???

[ecapes]

hi peeps

im a newbie here and I desperately need help with my bio cw if any clever peeps out there can help.....

I need to know how glucose acts as a reducing agent?/? when glucose is added to acidified potassium permanganate.

, its something to do with the c=0 group they have and the structure pf alpha glucose

any help MUCH appreciated


emily


x

[mith]

Seems more of a chemistry question but here's the answer...

This is because the aldehydo group that is present can be oxidized to form a carboxylic acid group.
qtd from http://dl.clackamas.cc.or.us/ch106-07/reducing.htm

It seems that c-h and c-o bonds are favorable to reducing. Note that almost all sugars will react this way, cyclic shaped or not.