Question
Question: Glucose on reaction with \(B{{r}_{2}}\) water gives:...
Glucose on reaction with Br2 water gives:
Solution
The Fischer projection of glucose molecule reveals that there is an aldehyde group at one of the ends which can be easily oxidized. On the other hand, Br2water is considered as a mild oxidizing agent that can oxidize aldehyde groups to carboxylic acid.
Complete answer:
Glucose is the most abundant monosaccharide, a subcategory of carbohydrates. Glucose is mainly made by plants and most algae during photosynthesis from water and carbon dioxide, using energy from sunlight, where it is used to make cellulose in cell walls, which is the most abundant carbohydrate.
Let us draw the structure of glucose to see the functional groups present in the molecule
Fischer projection of glucose:
From the above structure we can identify 5 hydroxyl groups and 1 aldehyde group.
Br2 water is widely used to detect unsaturation in a compound. The discoloration of Br2 water indicates unsaturation in the compound.
However, Br2 water is also considered as a mild oxidizing agent. Br2 water oxidizes aldehydes into carboxylic acids. They do not react with ketone due to steric hindrance.
Let us write down the reaction of glucose molecules with Br2 water.
In the above reaction we see that Br2 water oxidizes the aldehyde group present in glucose to carboxylic acid. The product of this reaction is gluconic acid.
Therefore, the correct answer is option (B).
Note: Glucose when subjected to a strong oxidizing agent, gives saccharic acid the product which has a carboxylic acid group on each end of the molecule. The terminal hydroxyl group does not get oxidized as Br2 water is a mild oxidizing agent and cannot oxidize hydroxyl groups.