How to judge α-glucose and β-glucose?

When in water, their ring structures are different. The orientation of the hydroxyl group (OH) attached to carbon 1 and carbon 4 is different. The hydroxyl groups on carbon 1 and carbon 4 of α-glucose are in the same direction. β is the opposite.

Glucose is easily absorbed into the blood, so it is often used by hospital personnel, sports enthusiasts, and ordinary people as a powerful and quick energy supplement.

Extended information:

Natural glucose, whether free or combined, belongs to the D configuration. In aqueous solution, it mainly exists in the pyran configuration with oxygen-containing rings. , is an equilibrium mixture of two configurations, α and β. Under normal temperature conditions, crystals can be precipitated from supersaturated aqueous solutions in the form of α-D-glucose hydrate (containing 1 water molecule), with a melting point of 80°C.

The crystals precipitated between 50 and 115°C are anhydrous α-D-glucose, with a melting point of 146°C. The stable form precipitated above 115℃ is β-D-glucose, with a melting point of 148~150℃. The furan ring form of glucose only exists in a bound state in a few natural compounds.

Baidu Encyclopedia - Glucose