Which type of glucose has a hydroxyl group positioned differently than the other?

The correct answer is β Glucose. This type of glucose is characterized by the positioning of its hydroxyl group (-OH) on the first carbon atom (C1). In β Glucose, the hydroxyl group is oriented above the plane of the ring, whereas in α Glucose, the hydroxyl group is positioned below this plane. This distinction in the arrangement of the hydroxyl group results in different properties and reactivities between the two forms of glucose, which is crucial in biochemical reactions, particularly in the context of polysaccharide formation.

Understanding this difference is essential for grasping how carbohydrates function in biology, as the specific structural variations lead to different roles in metabolic processes. For example, starch (which contains α Glucose) and cellulose (composed of β Glucose) exhibit markedly different physical properties and biological functions due to these variations in hydroxyl group positioning.

The other options, such as Ribose and Glucose-6-Phosphate, refer to different sugars or derivatives that do not directly relate to the positioning of the hydroxyl group on the C1 of glucose in the same way that α and β Glucose do. Ribose is a five-carbon sugar, and Glucose-6-Phosphate is a phosphorylated