Question:

Which reagent oxidizes glucose to saccharic acid?

Show Hint

Remember the oxidation gradient for glucose:
1. Mild oxidizing agent ($\text{Br}_2\ \text{water}$) $\rightarrow$ Mono-carboxylic acid (Gluconic acid).
2. Strong oxidizing agent ($\text{dil. HNO}_3$) $\rightarrow$ Di-carboxylic acid (Saccharic acid).
Updated On: Jun 4, 2026
  • $\text{dil. HNO}_3$
  • $\text{NH}_2\text{OH}$
  • HCN
  • $\text{Br}_2\ \text{water}$
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks us to identify the specific chemical reagent that is capable of converting glucose into saccharic acid (also known as dicarboxy acid or glucaric acid) via oxidation.

Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
Glucose contains one primary alcohol group ($-\text{CH}_2\text{OH}$) at one end and one aldehyde group ($-\text{CHO}$) at the other end, connected by four secondary alcohol channels.
To produce saccharic acid ($\text{HOOC}-(\text{CHOH})_4-\text{COOH}$), both the terminal aldehyde group and the terminal primary alcohol group must be simultaneously oxidized into carboxylic acid groups ($-\text{COOH}$). This requires a strong oxidizing agent.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Let's analyze the effects of the provided options on a glucose molecule:
Bromine water ($\text{Br}_2\ \text{water}$) is a mild oxidizing agent. It only oxidizes the reactive aldehyde group to form gluconic acid, leaving the primary alcohol group untouched.
Hydroxylamine ($\text{NH}_2\text{OH}$) and Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN) are nucleophilic reagents that react with the carbonyl group to form an oxime and a cyanohydrin, respectively, rather than acting as oxidizing agents.
Dilute nitric acid ($\text{dil. HNO}_3$) is a powerful oxidizing agent. It successfully attacks and oxidizes both the oxidizable aldehyde group ($-\text{CHO}$) and the primary alcohol group ($-\text{CH}_2\text{OH}$) of glucose into carboxylic acid functions.
The complete structural transformation can be written as:
$$\text{CHO}-(\text{CHOH})_4-\text{CH}_2\text{OH} \xrightarrow{\text{dil. HNO}_3} \text{COOH}-(\text{CHOH})_4-\text{COOH}$$
This dicarboxylic acid product is known as saccharic acid.

Step 4: Final Answer:
The reagent that oxidizes glucose to saccharic acid is $\text{dil. HNO}_3$, matching option (A).
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