Difference Between Glucose And Fructose

Glucose and Fructose are both carbohydrates and simple monosaccharide sugars that are required by the human body for its regular metabolism activities. Both glucose and fructose are commonly found in fruits, vegetables, and other foods. Glucose is created by breaking down disaccharides or polysaccharides, which are larger sugar molecules. And, fructose is found in its simplest form in fruits and vegetables like beets, corn, and potatoes. Before proceeding further let’s learn in brief about Monosaccharide, and Disaccharides

Monosaccharide: The basic form of sugar is called a monosaccharide, this is the sugar that provides energy to the human body for performing various activities. Examples of monosaccharides are Glucose and Fructose.

Disaccharides: Molecules formed by the joining of two or more monosaccharides are called disaccharides or double sugar. Examples of disaccharides are Sucrose, Maltose, and Lactose.

What is Glucose?

Glucose is a simple sugar (carbohydrate) that is the most abundant monosaccharide this is also known as Dextrose. It is the primary source of energy for all living organisms. It is produced during the process of photosynthesis in plants and stored in plants in the form of Starch and in animals in the form of Glycogen. Glucose is also found in the bloodstream of Humans, where it is referred to as blood sugar, and is regulated by the Hormone Insulin.

Glucose is also called Grape Sugar and is the main source of energy for Human Beings. Now let’s learn about the preparation and uses of Glucose in this article.

Preparation of Glucose

Glucose is produced by various methods and some of them are discussed below,

• From Sucrose (Cane Sugar): If we boil sucrose in an alcoholic solution with dilute HCl and H₂SO₄, the result of the reaction is equal part Glucose and equal part Fructose and the following reaction is,

C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁(Sucrose)+ H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ (Glucose)+ C₆H₁₂O₆ (Fructose)

• From Starch: The hydrolysis of starch with diluted H₂SO₄ at 393 K under high-pressure results in the formation of Glucose and the following reaction is,

(C₆H₁₀O₄)n (Starch or cellulose) + nH₂O + H⁺ → nC₆H₁₂O₆ (Glucose)

Uses of Glucose

Various uses of Glucose are,

• Glucose provides energy to the human body for all its metabolic activities.
• Glucose is given to the patient who is extremely ill and is unable to digest food on its own.
• Glucose is used in the treatment of low blood sugar.
• Glucose is used as the monomer for various polymer reactions.

Structure of Glucose

The structure of the Glucose is shown in the image below

What is Fructose?

Fructose is also called fruit sugar and is commonly found in fruits and vegetables. Fructose belongs to a group called ketose. Sucrose has a fructose molecule joined with a glucose molecule with the help of a glycosidic bond. Fructose is primarily metabolized in the liver. It is also used for energy production but at a slower rate than glucose. Fructose is commonly used as a sweetener in many processed foods and drinks, such as soda and candy, due to its sweet taste and low cost.

Uses of Fructose

Various uses of Fructose are mentioned below:

• Fructose is used as the flavouring agent.
• Fructose is the main ingredient for various Juices and Energy drinks.
• Fructose is also used in the manufacturing of candies, cookies, etc.

Structure of Fructose

The structure of the Glucose is added in the image below,

Differences Between Glucose and Fructose

Various differences between Glucose and Fructose can be understood with the help of the table added below:

	Glucose	Fructose
Structure	6 Carbon ring	5 Carbon Ring
Sources	Found in many carbohydrate foods, including starches, grains, and vegetables.	Found in many fruits, honey, and some vegetables
Function Group	Glucose belongs to Aldohexes as it has an Aldehyde functional group.	Fructose belongs to Ketohexose as it has a Ketone functional group
Metabolism	Metabolized by most cells in the body	Metabolized primarily in the liver
Insulin Response	Stimulates insulin secretion	Does not stimulate insulin secretion
Sweetness	Not as sweet as fructose	Sweeter than glucose
Energy Production	Rapidly metabolized for energy production	Metabolized more slowly for energy production
Industrial Uses	Used in the production of many food products, as well as in the production of ethanol for fuel	Commonly used as a sweetener in the food industry, and also used in the production of high-fructose corn syrup
Health Effects	Excessive consumption may lead to elevated blood sugar levels and insulin resistance	Excessive consumption has been linked to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome
Sources	It is found in starch and table sugar.	It is found in fruits, vegetables, and sugar cane.

Glucose and Fructose both are simple sugars and they provide energy for various metabolic activities

Read More,

• Carbohydrates
• Sugar
• Difference between Carbohydrates and Lipids

FAQs on Glucose and Fructose

Q1: Define Glucose.

Answer:

The basic sugar found in human blood is called Glucose it is a monosaccharide with the chemical formula of C₆H₁₂O₆. It is the primary source of energy for all human beings. It is found in grains, some vegetables, etc.

Q2: Define Fructose.

Answer:

Fructose also called fruit sugar is a monosaccharide sugar found in fruits and vegetables. The chemical formula of fructose is C₆H₁₂O₆. 

Q3: What are Monosaccharides?

Answer:

Monosaccharides are the basic form of carbohydrates and are the fundamental sources of energy for human beings. various examples of monosaccharides sugar are Glucose and Fructose.

Q4: What are the Functions of Carbohydrates?

Answer:

Various functions of carbohydrates are,

• It provides energy to living organisms.
• It is used as a sweetener in various food products and is also used as a preservative.
• It is used as a monomer for various polymer reactions

Q5: What is the Glycosidic Linkage?

Answer:

When two monosaccharides combine with each other using oxygen atoms they form disaccharides and the bond between them is called Glycosidic linkage.

Q6: What is Fructose and Glucose Formula?

Answer:

The formula for both Glucose and Fructose is C₆H₁₂O₆ but their arrangement in space is different and they have different functional groups.

Q7: What is the basic difference between Glucose and Fructose?

Answer:

 Glucose consists of 6 Carbon ring while Fructose consists of 5 Carbon ring.