Discovery
Emil Hermann Fisher synthesized glucose in about 1884, after studying the three-dimensional shapes of different sugar molecules. Not only did Fisher discover glucose but also about thirty other sugar molecules. Fisher won a Noble Prize for his discoveries of many sugar molecules and he also received a Helmholtz Medal for his work.
how its made
Glucose is found naturally in plants and some single-celled organisms through photosynthesis. Photosynthesis occurs when the sun starts the reaction between carbon dioxide and water which later results in the creation of glucose and oxygen.
6CO2 + 6H2O --> C6H12O6 + 6O2
The chemical reaction above is showing the process of photosynthesis.
Besides being found naturally, glucose can be produced from the steam hydrolysis of cornstarch or any waste products that are consisting of cellulose. Cellulose is a molecule that is made up of large amounts of glucose. When using the waste product containing cellulose, a dilute acid must be used also. The dilute acid doesn't make the glucose very pure but it consists of maltose and dextrins, molecules that consist of two of more units of glucose that have joined together.
6CO2 + 6H2O --> C6H12O6 + 6O2
The chemical reaction above is showing the process of photosynthesis.
Besides being found naturally, glucose can be produced from the steam hydrolysis of cornstarch or any waste products that are consisting of cellulose. Cellulose is a molecule that is made up of large amounts of glucose. When using the waste product containing cellulose, a dilute acid must be used also. The dilute acid doesn't make the glucose very pure but it consists of maltose and dextrins, molecules that consist of two of more units of glucose that have joined together.
Health Problems
The most important health problem associated with glucose is diabetes. Diabetes is a condition that is developed when the body does not produce an enough amount of insulin or when the body can't use insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone that controls the metabolism of glucose in the body.When insulin levels are down, a person with diabetes has to control there sugar intake and when insulin levels are up, a person with diabetes must inject insulin in there body. If the amount of insulin in a persons body is not controlled, that person becomes hungry, looses weight, suffers from exhaustion and could even result in coma or death if it is not treated properly.