Monosaccharides are classified into aldoses (containing an aldehyde group) and ketoses (containing a keto group). Aldoses have an aldehyde group, while ketoses have a keto group.
How are monosaccharides classified based on functional groups, and what distinguishes an aldose from a ketose?
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Monosaccharides are classified based on functional groups into aldoses and ketoses. An aldose has an aldehyde functional group (-CHO) at one end of the carbon chain, while a ketose has a ketone functional group (C=O) within the carbon chain. The distinction lies in the position of the carbonyl group. In aldoses, the carbonyl group is at the terminal carbon, while in ketoses, it is within the chain. This structural difference affects their chemical properties and reactivity. Common examples of aldoses include glucose and ribose, while fructose is a well-known ketose.