Hexoses

Hexoses are a type of monosaccharide with six carbon atoms. They are the most common form of sugar and include glucose, fructose, and galactose. Hexoses are important in the metabolism of living organisms.

Structure and Classification

Hexoses can be classified based on their functional group into aldohexoses and ketohexoses. Aldohexoses have an aldehyde group at the end of the molecule, while ketohexoses have a ketone group in the middle of the molecule.

Aldohexoses

The most common aldohexose is glucose, which is the primary source of energy in most organisms. Other examples include mannose, galactose, and gulose.

Ketohexoses

The most common ketohexose is fructose, which is found in many fruits and honey. Other examples include sorbose and tagatose.

Biological Importance

Hexoses play a crucial role in the metabolism of both plants and animals. They are the primary source of energy and are also involved in the synthesis of many important biomolecules.

In Plants

In plants, hexoses are produced during photosynthesis and are used as a source of energy and as building blocks for other carbohydrates.

In Animals

In animals, hexoses are obtained from the diet and are used to produce energy through glycolysis. They are also used in the synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins.

See Also

• Monosaccharides
• Disaccharides
• Polysaccharides
• Carbohydrates

Hexoses Resources
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