Glucose [Chemical formula, Physical, Chemical Properties and Reactions]

By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman | Last updated: February 3, 2024

Chemical formula of glucose is C6H12O6.

Physical Properties of Glucose:

Properties Details
Appearance White crystalline powder or colorless crystals
Boiling Point Decomposes above 300 °C
Density 1.54 g/cm³
Melting Point 146-150 °C
Molecular Formula C6H12O6
Molecular Weight 180.16 g/mol
Odor Odorless
Optical Rotation +52.7° (α-D-glucose) and -52.7° (β-D-glucose)
Solubility Soluble in water, slightly soluble in alcohol

Chemical Properties of Glucose:

Properties Details
Combustion Glucose undergoes combustion, releasing carbon dioxide and water
Fermentation Under anaerobic conditions, glucose can be fermented to produce ethanol and carbon dioxide
Glycosylation Glucose can form glycosidic bonds to other molecules, forming disaccharides and polysaccharides
Hydrolysis Glucose can be hydrolyzed to yield monosaccharides
Maillard Reaction Glucose participates in the Maillard reaction, browning food products when heated with amino acids
Mutarotation Glucose exists in equilibrium between the α and β forms, interconverting via mutarotation
Oxidation Glucose can be oxidized by mild oxidizing agents
Reactivity Reducing sugar

Reaction of glucose

Alkali Metal

Alkali Metal Reaction with Glucose Product
Lithium (Li) 2 Li + C6H12O6 → 2 LiOH + C6H10O6 Lithium hydroxide ,gluconic acid
Sodium (Na) 2 Na + C6H12O6 → 2 NaOH + C6H10O6 Sodium hydroxide ,gluconic acid
Potassium (K) 2 K + C6H12O6 → 2 KOH + C6H10O6 Potassium hydroxide ,gluconic acid
Rubidium (Rb) 2 Rb + C6H12O6 → 2 RbOH + C6H10O6 Rubidium hydroxide ,gluconic acid
Cesium (Cs) 2 Cs + C6H12O6 → 2 CsOH + C6H10O6 Cesium hydroxide ,gluconic acid

Alkaline Earth Metal

Alkaline Earth Metal Reaction with Glucose Product
Beryllium (Be) No reaction No product
Magnesium (Mg) No reaction No product
Calcium (Ca) Ca + C6H12O6 → Ca(OH)2 + C6H10O6 + Heat Calcium hydroxide ,gluconic acid
Strontium (Sr) Sr + C6H12O6 → Sr(OH)2 + C6H10O6 + Heat Strontium hydroxide ,gluconic acid
Barium (Ba) Ba + C6H12O6 → Ba(OH)2 + C6H10O6 + Heat Barium hydroxide ,gluconic acid

 

Transition Metal

Transition Metal Reaction with Glucose Product
Copper (Cu) Cu + C6H12O6 → Cu2O + C6H10O6 Cuprous oxide ,gluconic acid
Iron (Fe) 4 Fe + 3 C6H12O6 → Fe3O4 + 3 C6H10O6 + 2 H2O + Heat Iron(II,III) oxide, gluconic acid, ,water
Silver (Ag) 4 Ag + C6H12O6 → 4 Ag2O + C6H10O6 Silver oxide ,gluconic acid

Post-Transition Metal

 

Post-Transition Metal Reaction with Glucose Product
Aluminum (Al) 4 Al + 3 C6H12O6 + 18 H2O → 4 Al(OH)3 + 3 CH3COOH Aluminum hydroxide, acetic acid, ,gluconic acid
Zinc (Zn) Zn + C6H12O6 → Zn(OH)2 + C6H10O6 Zinc hydroxide ,gluconic acid
Tin (Sn) Sn + 2 C6H12O6 → SnO2 + 2 C6H10O6 + Heat Tin oxide ,gluconic acid
Lead (Pb) Pb + C6H12O6 → PbO + C6H10O6 + Heat Lead oxide ,gluconic acid
Bismuth (Bi) No reaction No product

Non-Metal

 

 

Non-Metal Reaction with Glucose Product
Nitrogen C6H12O6 + 6 HNO3 → 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + 6 NO2 + Heat Carbon dioxide, water, nitrogen dioxide, ,heat
Chlorine C6H12O6 + 6 Cl2 → 6 HCl + 6 CO2 + Heat Hydrogen chloride, carbon dioxide, ,heat
Oxygen C6H12O6 + 6 O2 → 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + Heat Carbon dioxide, water, ,heat
Sulfur C6H12O6 + 6 H2SO4 → 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + 6 SO2 + Heat Carbon dioxide, water, sulfur dioxide, ,heat
Phosphorus C6H12O6 + 6 H3PO4 → 6 CO2 + 18 H2O + Heat Carbon dioxide, water, ,phosphoric acid
Iodine C6H12O6 + 6 I2 → 6 HI + 6 CO2 + Heat Hydrogen iodide, carbon dioxide, ,heat
Fluorine C6H12O6 + 6 F2 → 6 HF + 6 CO2 + Heat Hydrogen fluoride, carbon dioxide, ,heat

 

Metalloid

Metalloid Reaction with Glucose Product
Boron No reaction No product
Silicon C6H12O6 + 6 SiO2 → 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + SiC + Heat Carbon dioxide, water, silicon carbide, ,heat
Germanium C6H12O6 + 6 Ge → 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + GeO2 + Heat Carbon dioxide, water, germanium dioxide, ,heat
Arsenic C6H12O6 + 6 As → 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + As2O3 + Heat Carbon dioxide, water, arsenic trioxide, ,heat
Antimony 2 C6H12O6 + 9 Sb2O3 → 12 CO2 + 18 H2O + 9 Sb + Heat Carbon dioxide, water, antimony, ,heat
Tellurium C6H12O6 + 3 Te → 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + TeO2 + Heat Carbon dioxide, water, tellurium dioxide, ,heat

 

 

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