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Multiple Choice
Which of the following sugars is a pentose?
A
Glucose
B
Fructose
C
Galactose
D
Ribose
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the term 'pentose'. A pentose is a monosaccharide (simple sugar) that contains five carbon atoms in its structure. The general formula for pentoses is C₅H₁₀O₅.
Step 2: Review the structures of the given sugars. Glucose, fructose, and galactose are hexoses, meaning they contain six carbon atoms (C₆H₁₂O₆). Ribose, on the other hand, is a pentose with five carbon atoms (C₅H₁₀O₅).
Step 3: Recall the classification of sugars based on the number of carbon atoms. Hexoses (e.g., glucose, fructose, galactose) have six carbons, while pentoses (e.g., ribose) have five carbons.
Step 4: Confirm the structural formula of ribose. Ribose is a five-carbon sugar commonly found in nucleotides and nucleic acids, such as RNA. Its structure matches the definition of a pentose.
Step 5: Conclude that ribose is the correct answer because it is the only sugar in the list that meets the criteria of being a pentose (five-carbon sugar).