Glucose is oxidized by nitric acid to yield

Options

A. glycolic acid
B. gluconic acid
C. glucaric acid
D. glyoxalic acid

Answer

C

Explanation

Dilute nitric acid (a stronger oxidizing agent than bromine water) oxidizes both the `-CHO` group and the terminal `-CH_(2) OH` of an aldose to `-CO_(2) H` group. These dicarboxylic acids are known as aldaric acids
`underset("Aldose")underset(CH_(2)OH)underset(|)overset(CHO)overset(|)((CHOH)_(n))overset(HNO_(3))rarrunderset("Aldonic acid")underset(CO_(2)H)underset(|)overset(CO_(2)H)overset(|)((CHOH)_(n))`
The aldaric acid obtained from `D`-glucose is called `D-` glucose acid. (older terms for an aldaric acid are a glycaric acid or a saccharic acid).