α-D-glucose and β-D-glucose are

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α-D-glucose and β-D-glucose are both monomers, or single units, of carbohydrates. They are isomers of each other because they have the same molecular formula but a different arrangement of atoms. Specifically, they differ in the orientation of the hydroxyl (OH) group at the C-1 position: α-D-glucose has the OH group pointing downward, while β-D-glucose has it pointing upward. These different orientations allow them to form different types of glycosidic linkages, leading to the formation of different types of polysaccharides. The fact that they are isomers of each other and differ only in the orientation of the C-1 OH group means that they are examples of anomers.

α-D-Glucose and β-D-Glucose Are