When we talk about glucose, we’re referring to sugar. It’s used in a wide range of applications, including cell cultures and bacterial cultures.
Glucose is among the most abundant monosaccharides, falling within the broader category of carbohydrates. To learn more about glucose, keep reading this article. As suppliers and distributors of fine chemicals in Spain and the United Kingdom, we invite you to browse through DC Fine Chemicals’ catalog. Find the chemical products you’re looking for in Barcelona and opt for optimal quality!
Fundamental element for our species
Glucose (CAS 50-99-7) is one of the components responsible for the proper functioning of the body—and of all organisms. Alongside fats, glucose serves as one of the body’s energy sources, found in foods such as bread, dairy products, or fruit, among others. It’s commonly known as blood sugar, and in animals, it’s released through glycogenolysis.
However, as is often the case, overconsumption isn’t advisable. Excessively high glucose levels are unhealthy, potentially causing severe and permanent effects. When ingested, glucose is stored in the body as a polymer, with its natural form being D-glucose. The corresponding molecule can exist in both acyclic (or open-chain) and cyclic (ring) forms.
The former accounts for less than 0.02% of glucose molecules, featuring an unbranched open chain of 6 carbon atoms. The ring form, on the other hand, arises from the open-chain form after an intramolecular nucleophilic addition reaction.
Glucose exhibits high solubility in water and acetic acid but the opposite when it comes to ethanol and methanol. Its appearance is solid, specifically as white or colorless powder. It melts at 14 °C and decomposes starting at 188 °C.
In plants and some prokaryotic organisms, glucose results from photosynthesis, although it also forms due to the breakdown of polymeric forms of glucose itself, such as starch in plants or glycogen in fungi and animals.
Glucose is closely related to a condition affecting around 6 million people in our country: diabetes. The body processes glucose multiple times a day. Enzymes and the pancreas kickstart the breakdown process. It’s in this organ where insulin production occurs, a process that needs regulation and sometimes external assistance (such as insulin injections). Additionally, insulin resistance can occur when the liver fails to recognize insulin. It continues to produce large amounts of glucose, leading to excess, as mentioned earlier.
Because glucose is something basic and necessary, a proper understanding of its structure and composition is key to successful research in the field of organic chemistry. At DC Fine Chemicals, we strongly advocate for this. Visit our catalog and you’ll find chemical products in Barcelona that fit your needs. We look forward to seeing you!