| α (alpha) Glucose | Click on links below to highlight sections of the molecules | β (beta) Glucose |
|
Alpha and beta glucose differ only in the direction that -H and -OH groups point on carbon 1 (labelled). Alpha glucose has an -OH [hydroxyl] group (red sphere attached to white sphere) that points "downwards", away from the ring, whereas the -OH on carbon 1 of beta glucose is above the ring. This is the reason for the difference between the disaccharides maltose and cellobiose. |