| |
Glucose can
adopt several different structures, but all of these
structures can be divided into two families of mirror-images
(stereoisomers). Only one set of these isomers exists in
nature, those derived from the "right-handed form" of
glucose, denoted D-glucose. D-glucose is often referred to
as dextrose,
especially in the food industry. The term dextrose is
derived from dextrorotatory glucose. Solutions of dextrose
rotate polarized light to the right (in Latin: dexter =
"right").

|
|