Tag: Sugar isomers

Despite sharing the identical chemical formula ($C_6H_{12}O_6$), the functional relationship between glucose and galactose is defined by a subtle structural difference, classifying them as stereoisomers with unique roles in biology and metabolism. This distinction profoundly impacts how our bodies acquire and utilize energy from various dietary sources.

Glucose and fructose are both simple sugars, or monosaccharides, with the same chemical formula of $C_6H_{12}O_6$. However, they have distinct alternative names and structural differences that affect their metabolism and sweetness. This guide explains the different names and the underlying characteristics of each sugar.

While there are only three major dietary monosaccharides—glucose, fructose, and galactose—the total number of naturally occurring monosaccharides is around 20. The answer to 'how many monosaccharides are there' is not a single number but depends heavily on how you classify these fundamental carbohydrate units.