ABSTRACT
The study of carbohydrates is of considerable theoretical and practical interest; their biological roles are determined by their specific chemical, functional, and biochemical behavior. These observations may be considered in terms of biomolecular evolution: during the sequential development of aerobic and anaerobic glycolysis as well as photosynthesis, glucose rather than any other sugar has emerged as the universal energy source. Sugar aldehydes or ketones are simple carbohydrates which possess reducing power due to their carbonyl group; this group is also responsible for their reactivity. Some of the most common related compounds of monosaccharides are alditols and sugar acids. The uses of simple carbohydrate analysis are as limitless as the information obtained from them. There is much literature of interest regarding analysis of monosaccharides. The presence of very polar hydroxyl groups makes monosaccharides and related compounds generally nonvolatile. They must be derivatized to volatile species prior to analysis — usually via gas chromatography.
