Chemical Properties of Fructose
Fructose exhibits various chemical properties that are essential for understanding its behavior in biochemical processes and its interactions in different contexts. Some key chemical properties of fructose are:
Reducing Sugar: Fructose is a reducing sugar, meaning it has the ability to reduce other substances by donating electrons during chemical reactions. This property is due to the presence of a carbonyl group in its structure.
Reaction with Alkaline Solutions: Fructose reacts with alkaline solutions, undergoing a process known as alkaline degradation. This reaction results in the formation of brown products and is associated with the caramelization of sugars.
Maillard Reaction: Participates in the Maillard reaction, a chemical reaction between amino acids and reducing sugars, which is responsible for the browning of foods during cooking.
Acetylation: Fructose can undergo acetylation reactions, where acetyl groups are added to the molecule under specific conditions.
Isomerization: Under certain conditions, fructose can undergo isomerization, converting between its two stereoisomeric forms: alpha and beta fructose. The isomerization process can be influenced by factors such as temperature and pH.
What is Fructose?
Fructose is a simple sugar, also called “fruit sugar”. Fructose is a monosaccharide like glucose and is found in all types of fruits hence, the name fruit sugar. Fructose has four calories per gram. Fructose also occurs in various foods such as honey, sugar cane, corn, etc.
In this article, we will learn about Fructose, its structure, preparation, properties, uses, and comparison between glucose and fructose.
Table of Content
- What is Fructose?
- Structure of Fructose
- Properties of Fructose
- Physical Properties of Fructose
- Chemical Properties of Fructose
- Difference between Glucose and Fructose