GK QUESTION#3240
Consider the following statements about chemical transformations of glucose: 1. The reduction of glucose using sodium amalgam leads to the formation of sorbitol. 2. The oxidation of glucose using acetic anhydride produces glucose pentaacetate. Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Show Answer
Answer
B. Only 1
Show Explanation
Explanation
Reduction of the open-chain aldehyde group of glucose gives the polyalcohol sorbitol, also called glucitol; sodium amalgam is a traditional reducing reagent for this conversion. Acetic anhydride instead acetylates the hydroxyl groups to form glucose pentaacetate. That transformation is not oxidation, so only statement 1 is correct.