Question

What is essentially the difference between `alpha`-form of glucose and `beta`-form of glucose? Explain.

Answer 1

Glucose is found to exist in two different crystalline forms which are named as `alpha and beta`. The `alpha`-form of glucose (m.p. 419K) is obtained by co/stalli~ation from concentrated solution of glucose at 303 K while the `beta`-form (m.p. 423K) is obtained by crystallisation from hot and saturated aqueous solution at 371 K