On oxidation with nitric acid, glucose as well as gluconic acid both
yield a dicarboxylic acid, saccharic acid This indicates the presence
of a primary alcoholic (–OH) group in glucose CHO
(CH
)4
OH
CH OH
2
Oxidation
(CH
)4
OH
CH OH
2
COOH
(CH
)4
OH
COOH
COOH
Oxidation
Saccharic
acid
Gluconic
acid
The exact spatial arrangement of different —OH groups was given
by Fischer after studying many other properties Its configuration is
correctly represented as I