Alditol

Definition

Alditols are sugar alcohols formed by the reduction of the aldehyde group in monosaccharides to an alcohol. This process preserves the carbon chain but changes the functional group at the end, affecting its reactivity and properties.

Related terms

Monosaccharides: Simple sugars that serve as fundamental units for carbohydrates, consisting of single sugar molecules like glucose or fructose.

Reduction reaction: A chemical reaction that involves the gain of electrons or decrease in oxidation state by a molecule, atom, or ion.

Sugar alcohols: A class of polyol compounds that are derived from sugars, characterized by having a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to each carbon atom that was formerly part of the carbonyl group in sugars