Tag: Functional isomers

As constitutional isomers, D-glucose and D-fructose share the same chemical formula ($C_6H_{12}O_6$), but are differentiated by their functional groups. This structural distinction is the basis of their unique biochemical roles, affecting everything from how the body metabolizes them to their characteristic sweetness and ring structures.

Despite sharing the same chemical formula, C6H12O6, glucose and fructose possess distinct functional groups—an aldehyde for glucose and a ketone for fructose—making them structural isomers. Understanding how to distinguish glucose and fructose is crucial in scientific analysis, nutritional science, and quality control, as their metabolic effects on the body are quite different.