BIOMOLECULES AND ENZYMES

Detailed explanation-1: -In the presence of an oxidizing agent, the ketose can rearrange to an aldose and then undergo oxidation to form the sugar acid. Carbohydrates that are able to undergo oxidation are referred to as reducing sugars (sugars that are reducing agents).

Detailed explanation-2: -Therefore, for glucose, we have twelve H at +1 each, six O at-2 each. This sums to +12 for the H and-12 for O, which means the six carbons are at zero. For CO2, we get-4 for the O so the C must be +4. CO2 is the highest oxidation state for carbon, meaning it is the most oxidized form.

Detailed explanation-3: -However, fatty acid metabolism yeilds more energy per carbon. This is largely because a fatty acid is more reduced than a glucose molecule. That is, it can be oxidized more, having its electrons stripped and therefore yielding more energy.

Detailed explanation-4: -The aldehyde carbon has a higher oxidation number than the alcohol carbon, so a CHO group is more highly oxidized than a CH2OH group.