The chemical formula for heptose is C7H14O7.
Understanding Heptose
Heptose is a type of monosaccharide, which is the simplest form of sugar and the basic unit of carbohydrates. The "hepta-" prefix indicates that this sugar contains seven carbon atoms in its structure. Like other monosaccharides, heptoses are polyhydroxy aldehydes (aldoheptoses) or polyhydroxy ketones (ketoheptoses), meaning they contain multiple hydroxyl (-OH) groups and either an aldehyde or a ketone functional group.
Molecular Formula and Properties
The molecular formula C7H14O7 is consistent with the general formula for monosaccharides, which is (CH2O)n, where 'n' represents the number of carbon atoms. For heptose, n=7.
Here are some key properties associated with heptose:
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Molecular Formula | C7H14O7 |
| Average Mass | 210.182 |
| Monoisotopic Mass | 210.073953 |
| ChemSpider ID | 190430 |
These details, including the exact molecular formula and mass information, are documented on chemical databases like ChemSpider, which provides comprehensive data on various chemical compounds.
Heptoses are found in nature, often as components of more complex molecules. For instance, sedoheptulose, a ketoheptose, is an important intermediate in the pentose phosphate pathway, a metabolic pathway crucial for the synthesis of nucleotides and aromatic amino acids.
