Glyceraldehyde
contains one asymmetric carbon atom and exists in two enantiomeric
forms as shown below (+) Isomer of glyceraldehyde has ‘D’ configuration It means that when
its structural formula is written on paper following specific conventions
which you will study in higher classes, the –OH group lies on right hand
side in the structure All those compounds which can be chemically
correlated to D (+) isomer of glyceraldehyde are said to have D-
configuration whereas those which can be correlated to ‘L’ (–) isomer of
glyceraldehyde are said to have L—configuration