What is the Difference Between Aldohexose and Ketohexose?

The main difference between aldohexoses and ketohexoses lies in the type of functional group they contain. Both aldohexoses and ketohexoses are monosaccharides with six carbon atoms, but they have distinct functional groups:

• Aldohexoses contain an aldehyde functional group, with a formyl group (–CH=O) attached to the first carbon atom in the linear structure. Examples of aldohexoses include glucose and galactose.
• Ketohexoses contain a ketone functional group, with a carbonyl group (C=O) attached to either the second or third carbon atom in the linear structure. The carbonyl group is typically found at the second position in ketohexoses, and ketohexoses with a carbonyl group at the third position are uncommon and difficult to synthesize. Examples of ketohexoses include fructose and ribulose.

In summary, the key difference between aldohexoses and ketohexoses is the type of functional group they contain: aldohexoses have an aldehyde group, while ketohexoses have a ketone group.

Comparative Table: Aldohexose vs Ketohexose

Aldohexoses and ketohexoses are two subclasses of hexoses, which are monosaccharide compounds containing six carbon atoms. The key difference between aldohexose and ketohexose is the presence of a formyl group in aldohexoses and a ketone group in ketohexoses. Here is a comparison table of their differences:

Aldohexose is a derivative of an aldehyde with the structure H–C(=O)–(CHOH)5–H. An example of an aldohexose is glucose, which has a formyl group at position 1 of the linear glucose structure.

Ketohexoses are organic compounds containing six carbon atoms and a ketone functional group. The carbonyl carbon in ketohexoses is typically at position 2. However, ketohexoses containing the carbonyl carbon at position 3 are uncommon. A common example of a ketohexose is fructose, which has a ketone group at position 2 of the fructose structure.