What is the product obtained when glucose is reduced in the presence of sodium amalgam?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is option 3. Sorbitol.
When glucose is reduced in the presence of sodium amalgam, the product obtained is Sorbitol.
Reduction of Glucose: When glucose undergoes reduction, the aldehyde group (\(-CHO\)) at the first carbon is reduced to a primary alcohol group (\(-CH_2OH\)).
Sodium Amalgam: This is a reducing agent that provides the necessary electrons for the reduction process.
Process: Glucose is an aldohexose, meaning it has an aldehyde group at carbon 1 and hydroxyl groups on the other carbons.
Reduction Reaction: The aldehyde group (\(-CHO\)) of glucose is reduced to an alcohol group (\(-CH_2OH\)).
Sorbitol Formation: This reaction converts the aldehyde group of glucose to an additional hydroxyl group, resulting in sorbitol (a sugar alcohol).
Summary of Options:
Gluconic Acid: Formed by the oxidation of glucose, not reduction.
Glucaric Acid: Formed by the oxidation of glucose at both the aldehyde group and the primary alcohol group.
Sorbitol: Formed by the reduction of the aldehyde group of glucose to an alcohol group.
Hexane: Not related to the reduction of glucose.
Thus, the correct product obtained when glucose is reduced in the presence of sodium amalgam is: Sorbitol.