Question
Biology Question on Nomenclature of organic compounds
Among the following choose the correct epimers:
A
Glucose, galactose
B
Glucose, fructose
C
Glucose, ribose
D
Gluconic acid, glucose
Answer
Glucose, galactose
Explanation
Solution
Epimers are compounds having the same chemical formula but differ in the spatial arrangement around a single carbon atom. Glucose and galactose are epimers of each other, as they differ in only in the position of hydroxyl group at C4 (chiral carbon atom).