Question

The number of carbons in deoxyribose sugar is
A. Four
B. Five
C. Six
D. Three

Answer 1

A ribose sugar is one of the simplest sugars and carbohydrates. It occurs naturally as a component of ribonucleotides and forms the structural unit of RNA and hence it differs from normal Ribose sugar and is called deoxyribose.

Complete answer: Important facts regarding deoxyribose sugar-
1. Ribose is a straightforward sugar and starch with atomic equation ${C_5}{H_{10}}{O_5}$ and deoxyribose $H - \left( {C = O} \right) - (C{H_2}) - {\left( {CHOH} \right)_3} - H$.
2. It means that it is derived from ribose sugar by a loss of an oxygen atom.
3. Deoxyribose was first discovered by Phoebus Levene.
4. The normally happening structure, d-ribose, is a part of the ribonucleotides from which RNA is assembled, thus this compound is vital for coding, unraveling, guideline, and articulation of genes.
5. It has basic simple deoxyribose, which is also a basic segment of DNA.
6. L-Ribose is another form but it was created by Fischer and Piloty.
7. It exists as a mixture of cyclic forms in equilibrium.
8. It is an aldopentose that means it is a monosaccharide containing five carbon atoms and an open-chain form has an aldehyde functional atom at one end.
9. The carbon atoms are numbered from $C1$ to $C5$.
Hence, the correct option is (B)-Five.
Additional information-
IUPAC (International Union for Pure and Applied Biochemistry) name for this compound is $2 - deoxy - D - ribose$. It has an important role in biology as it is a component of DNA.

Note: The deoxyribose sugar differs from the ribose sugar as it is derived from ribose but with the loss of one oxygen atom. It is readily soluble in water and it appears as a white solid form. This aldopentose has all the hydroxyl groups on the same side as compared to a normal ribose sugar.