An organic chemist examines the open-chain structural formula of D-glucose. How many asymmetric (chiral) carbon atoms are present in this single molecule?
Q1. An organic chemist examines the open-chain structural formula of D-glucose. How many asymmetric (chiral) carbon atoms are present in this single molecule?
Answer: 4
Explanation: Glucose (C6H12O6) has 4 chiral centers in its open-chain form. Option D refers to the cyclic alpha/beta forms which have 5 chiral centers.