Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Enantiomers
Enantiomers are a type of stereoisomer that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other. They occur when a molecule has at least one chiral center, which is a carbon atom bonded to four different groups. In the context of monosaccharides, enantiomers can significantly affect the properties and biological activity of the sugars.
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D and L Configuration
The D and L notation is used to designate the configuration of sugars based on the orientation of the hydroxyl (-OH) group on the chiral carbon farthest from the aldehyde or ketone group. If the -OH group is on the right in a Fischer projection, the sugar is classified as D; if it is on the left, it is classified as L. This classification is crucial for understanding the sugar's behavior in biological systems.
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Fischer Projection
A Fischer projection is a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional organic molecule, particularly useful for depicting the stereochemistry of sugars. In this format, vertical lines represent bonds that go back into the plane, while horizontal lines represent bonds that come out of the plane. Understanding Fischer projections is essential for drawing enantiomers and identifying their D and L configurations.
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