Glucose is a
sugar with the
molecular formula C6H12O6. The name "glucose" comes from the
Greek word γλυκος, meaning "sweet wine,
must". The suffix "
-ose" is a chemical classifier, denoting a
carbohydrate. It is also known as
grape sugar. With 6
carbon atoms, it is classed as a
hexose, a sub-category of
monosaccharides. α-
D-glucose is one of the 16
aldose stereoisomers. The
D-
isomer (
D-glucose), also known as
dextrose, occurs widely in nature, but the
L-isomer (
L-glucose) does not. Glucose is made during
photosynthesis from water and carbon dioxide, using energy from sunlight. The reverse of the photosynthesis reaction, which releases this energy, is a very important source of power for
cellular respiration. Glucose is stored as a
polymer, in plants as
starch and in animals as
glycogen, for times when the organism will need it. Glucose circulates in the blood of animals as
blood sugar. Glucose can be obtained by hydrolysis of carbohydrates such as milk, cane sugar, maltose, cellulose, glycogen etc. It is however, manufactured by hydrolysis of cornstarch by steaming and diluting acid.