Class 12 Chemistry simulations · Biomolecules

Glucose: ring forms and mutarotation

Dissolve pure α- or β-D-glucose and watch the optical rotation change until the two forms reach equilibrium.

Open the simulation

What to notice

Both anomers interconvert through the open-chain form until about 36 % α and 64 % β are present.

Key relation

[α]_D: α-glucose +112°, β-glucose +18.7°, equilibrium mixture +52.7°

Try this

Start from β-glucose. Does the rotation rise or fall?

What you can change

• Dissolve: choose α-D-glucose, β-D-glucose
• Time after dissolving: 0 to 240 min

More in Biomolecules

• Amino acids as zwitterions

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