1.1.4 Glucose

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Glucose is a type of sugar that is very important because it provides energy for living things. It is a hexose sugar, which means it has six carbon atoms.

The formula for glucose is C₆H₁₂O₆.

Glucose is the main fuel used by cells to get energy through a process called respiration. This energy is needed for things like movement, growth, and repair of cells.
There are two forms of glucose: alpha-glucose and beta-glucose. They are almost the same, but the OH group (hydroxyl group) is in different positions:
- In alpha-glucose, the OH group is below the ring.
- In beta-glucose, the OH group is above the ring.

These forms are used to make bigger molecules:

Alpha-glucose is used to make starch (in plants) and glycogen (in animals), which are used to store energy.
Beta-glucose is used to make cellulose, which helps make plant cell walls strong and sturdy.

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Glucose is also easily dissolved in water, which makes it easy for the body to transport it in the blood to wherever energy is needed. When the body doesn't need it immediately, it stores glucose as glycogen in animals or starch in plants for later use.

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