In basic biochemistry, glucose is a simple sugar that is also commonly known by which other name in medical and food chemistry contexts?

Introduction / Context:
Glucose is one of the most important simple sugars in biology, serving as a primary energy source in human blood and in cellular respiration. In medicine, food chemistry, and industry, glucose is sometimes sold or labelled under another common name. General science questions often ask candidates to recognise this alternate name.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The sugar in question is glucose, a simple monosaccharide.
• We are asked which other name it is commonly known by.
• Options include maltose, levulose, dextrose, ribose, and sucrose.
• Standard school level carbohydrate terminology is assumed.

Concept / Approach:
Dextrose is the name commonly used for D glucose, especially in commercial and medical contexts. The term refers to the dextrorotatory (right rotating) property of this sugar in polarised light. In contrast, maltose is a disaccharide composed of two glucose units, levulose is an old name for fructose, ribose is a pentose sugar in RNA, and sucrose is table sugar made from glucose and fructose. Therefore, the correct alternative name for glucose itself is dextrose.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that glucose is a monosaccharide with the formula C6H12O6 and is often described as blood sugar.Step 2: Remember that in medical drips and energy drinks, glucose solutions are often labelled as dextrose solutions.Step 3: Option C states dextrose, the crystalline form of D glucose, which matches this common usage.Step 4: Check other options: maltose is a disaccharide, levulose is another name for fructose, and ribose is a different sugar found in nucleic acids.Step 5: Conclude that dextrose is the correct alternate name for glucose in this context.

Verification / Alternative check:
Medical saline bottles and packaging for energy supplements frequently list dextrose as an ingredient. Chemistry textbooks and glossaries also identify dextrose as D glucose. These sources consistently equate dextrose with glucose, confirming that option C is the right answer. In contrast, fructose and sucrose are treated as separate sugars with different structures and properties.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, maltose, is formed when two glucose molecules join together and is not the same as a single glucose molecule. Option B, levulose, refers to fructose, a different monosaccharide that is sweeter than glucose and found in fruits and honey. Option D, ribose, is a five carbon sugar present in ribonucleic acid. Option E, sucrose, is ordinary table sugar made of glucose and fructose linked together, not pure glucose. None of these are correct synonyms for glucose itself.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse dextrose and sucrose because both names are seen on food labels. Another frequent error is to assume that any sugar ending with ose could be the correct answer. To avoid confusion, it helps to remember that dextrose is directly linked to the word dexter, meaning right, describing the optical rotation of D glucose. Associating dextrose specifically with glucose clarifies this relationship in exams.

Final Answer:
Glucose is also commonly known as Dextrose, the crystalline form of D-glucose.