Reasoning-Based Questions from Chemistry of Carbohydrates
1. Why are carbohydrates considered the main source of energy in the human body?
Explanation: Carbohydrates yield 4 kcal/g. Brain and RBCs rely solely on glucose, which is rapidly
metabolized to provide instant energy.
2. Why can humans metabolize only D-sugars and not L-sugars?
Explanation: Human enzymes are stereospecific and can recognize only D-isomers, making
L-sugars unusable.
3. Why is D-glucose dextrorotatory while D-fructose is levorotatory?
Explanation: D/L represents configuration; +/- indicates optical rotation due to hydroxyl group
orientation.
4. Why does freshly prepared glucose solution give lower value in glucose oxidase test?
Explanation: Due to mutarotation, alpha-D-glucose converts to beta-form slowly. The enzyme
prefers beta-D-glucose.
5. Why do glucose, fructose, and mannose form identical needle-shaped osazone crystals?
Explanation: Osazone formation involves C1 and C2, which are identical in these sugars.
6. Why is sucrose a non-reducing sugar while lactose and maltose are reducing sugars?
Explanation: Sucrose has no free anomeric carbon; both are involved in glycosidic linkage.
7. Why does sucrose not respond to Benedict's or Fehling's test?
Explanation: There is no free aldehyde or keto group in sucrose due to its full glycosidic bonding.
8. Why is mutarotation observed in glucose solutions?
Explanation: Interconversion between alpha and beta forms at C1 via open chain causes change in
optical rotation.
9. Why are glycosides non-reducing sugars?
Explanation: Their anomeric carbon is locked in a bond with aglycone, preventing ring opening.
10. Why are amino sugars like glucosamine not reducing sugars and do not form osazones?
Explanation: Amino sugars lack a free aldehyde or keto group required for reduction and osazone
formation.
11. Why is Benedict's test not specific for glucose?
Explanation: Benedict's detects any reducing sugar, not just glucose. Other sugars like lactose,
galactose, and fructose also give a positive test.
12. Why is mannitol used to reduce intracranial pressure?
Explanation: Mannitol is an osmotic diuretic. It draws water out from brain tissue into blood vessels,
reducing brain swelling and pressure.
13. Why does oxidation of glucose with Br2/H2O produce gluconic acid but not glucuronic
acid?
Explanation: Br2 is a mild oxidizer and only converts the aldehyde (C1) to carboxylic acid (gluconic
acid), not the terminal hydroxyl group (C6).
14. Why is cellulose indigestible in humans but digestible in herbivores?
Explanation: Humans lack cellulase enzyme needed to break beta-1,4-glycosidic bonds. Herbivores
have gut microbes that produce cellulase.
15. Why does glucose undergo enediol formation in alkaline medium?
Explanation: In alkaline pH, glucose tautomerizes to an enediol intermediate, which is highly reactive
and gives reducing properties.
16. Why are deoxy sugars like fucose and deoxyribose non-reducing?
Explanation: Deoxy sugars lack key hydroxyl groups and do not have a free aldehyde/keto group,
hence they cannot reduce Benedict's reagent.
17. Why does hydrolysis of sucrose result in invert sugar?
Explanation: Hydrolysis produces glucose (+) and fructose (-), leading to a net optical rotation
inversion. This is called invert sugar.
18. Why is fructose found in furanose form while glucose is in pyranose form in solution?
Explanation: Fructose forms a 5-membered ring (furanose) due to the keto group at C2; glucose
forms a 6-membered pyranose ring from its aldehyde group at C1.
19. Why do glycoproteins play important roles in cell membranes and signaling?
Explanation: They are involved in recognition, adhesion, receptor functions, and immune response
due to specific carbohydrate side chains.
20. Why is mannitol not formed from fructose alone, but along with sorbitol?
Explanation: Reduction of ketose like fructose creates a new chiral center, forming two alcohols
sorbitol and mannitol.
21. Why is saccharin considered non-caloric despite being much sweeter than sugar?
Explanation: Saccharin is not metabolized by the body, so it provides no energy and has zero
calories.
22. Why is galactosemia dangerous in infants?
Explanation: Galactose is not converted to glucose; it accumulates and damages liver, brain, and
eyes.
23. Why is glucuronic acid important in detoxification?
Explanation: It binds insoluble compounds, making them water-soluble for excretion, aiding liver
detoxification.
24. Why does aspartame need to be avoided in phenylketonuria?
Explanation: Aspartame contains phenylalanine, which cannot be metabolized in PKU patients,
leading to toxic buildup.
