The molecular formula for glucose is C₆H₁₂O₆. What would be the molecular formula for a polymer made by linking ten glucose molecules together by dehydration reactions?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When ten glucose molecules are linked together by dehydration reactions, there will be 9 water molecules formed, as each dehydration reaction removes one water molecule. Thus, the polymer will have 10 glucose molecules minus 9 water molecules, resulting in a molecular formula of C₅₉H₁₀₂O₅₁. Simplifying this gives C₆₀H₁₀₂O₅₀, and since the formula needs to be balanced, we need to add one more oxygen atom to the formula to balance out the carbon and hydrogen atoms, giving us C₆₀H₁₀₂O₅₁, which matches option B.

The Molecular Formula for Glucose Is C₆H₁₂O₆