Consider the precise complete stereochemistry of a generic aldohexose. Exactly how many total chiral — Biomolecules Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

In its straight open-chain aldehyde form, D-glucose predictably possesses exactly 4 internal chiral centers ($C-2, C-3, C-4, C-5$). However, upon spontaneous cyclization into the pyranose ring, the previously planar $C-1$ carbonyl carbon chemically becomes a brand-new chiral center (the anomeric carbon), increasing the total count strictly to 5.