Which one of the following monosaccharides has the least number of asymmetric carbon atoms?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking which monosaccharide has the least number of asymmetric carbon atoms among the provided options. This requires knowledge of organic chemistry and the structural characteristics of the listed monosaccharides.
Answer
Dihydroxyacetone
The correct answer is d. Dihydroxyacetone.
Answer for screen readers
The correct answer is d. Dihydroxyacetone.
More Information
Dihydroxyacetone is unique among common monosaccharides because it does not contain any asymmetric (chiral) carbon atoms.
Tips
Common mistakes include confusing dihydroxyacetone with glyceraldehyde which has one chiral center.
Sources
- 6.3: Classifying Monosaccharides - Chemistry LibreTexts - chem.libretexts.org
- Monosaccharide Diversity - Essentials of Glycobiology - NCBI - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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