| Glycosides are a class of complex chemical | | | | carbohydrates and glycogen. Fermentation of glucose |
| compounds in plants. They are broken down by plant | | | | by yeast produces ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide. |
| enzymes into sugars, among which glucose is | | | | Glucose is made industrially by the hydrolysis of starch |
| generally included, and into other substances. The term | | | | under the influence of dilute acid or, more commonly, |
| glucoside is often used synonymously with glycoside, | | | | under that of enzymes. It is chiefly used as a |
| but in its more specific meaning it refers to glycosides | | | | sweetening agent in the food-processing industries. It is |
| that yield glucose. Each glycoside in a plant is | | | | also used in tanning, in dye baths, in making tableted |
| hydrolyzed by an enzyme, usually a specific enzyme | | | | products, and in medicine for treating dehydration and |
| found in the same plant. The enzyme emulsin, | | | | for intravenous feeding. |
| however, causes hydrolysis of several glycosides. The | | | | Glycerol or Glycerin, C3H8O3, is a colorless, odorless, |
| enzymes and glycosides are stored in separate plant | | | | sweet-tasting alcohol, with a specific gravity of 1.26. It |
| cells until the reaction products of the glycosides are | | | | boils at 290° C (554° F) and melts at 18° C |
| needed and the enzymes are activated. | | | | (64.4° F). Liquid glycerol resists freezing but may |
| Glycosides are believed to serve several purposes in | | | | crystallize at low temperatures. It forms a solution with |
| the plant. Glycosides are bitter tasting, and it is believed | | | | water in any proportion, and dissolves in alcohol in all |
| that they help keep birds and insects from eating | | | | proportions, but is insoluble in ether and many other |
| seeds and fruit before they are fully grown, by which | | | | organic solvents. The term glycerol refers specifically |
| time the glycosides have been converted to sweet | | | | to the compound, the formula of which is given above, |
| sugars. When a plant tissue is bruised, the enzymes | | | | whereas glycerin may also refer to glycerite (glycerol |
| hydrolyze the glycosides into products, such as phenol | | | | in solution) or other solutions of or preparations made |
| compounds and acids that have an antiseptic action | | | | from glycerol. |
| and prevent decay of the damaged tissues. | | | | Simple fats and oils are esters of fatty acids and |
| Glycosides are soluble in water and are obtained from | | | | glycerol crude glycerol is purified by distillation after |
| plants by water extraction. They are mostly colorless | | | | obtaining it as a by-product after fats and oils have |
| crystalline solids with a bitter taste. Simple glycosides | | | | been treated with alkali to form the soap. Of the |
| have been synthesized in the laboratory, and several | | | | annual glycerol production about 40 percent comes |
| hundred glycosides have been extracted from plants | | | | from soap making. The rest is synthesized from the |
| and used for many purposes. Among the important | | | | petroleum products ally alcohol, C3H6O, or propylene, |
| glycosides are indican, used for dyeing; digitalin, used in | | | | C3H6, or by the catalytic action of hydrogen on sugar |
| medicine; and the saponins, foaming agents used | | | | at high temperature and pressure. |
| industrially and medicinally. | | | | The most common use for glycerol is in the making of |
| Glucose, a monosaccharide sugar, C6H12O6, is found | | | | alkyd resins. Other important applications are in the |
| in honey and the juices of many fruits; the alternate | | | | preparation of drugs and toilet articles, including |
| name grape sugar is derived from the presence of | | | | toothpastes; as a plasticizer in cellophane; and as a |
| glucose in grapes. It is the sugar most often produced | | | | moistening agent in tobacco products. Because |
| by hydrolysis of natural glycosides. Glucose is a normal | | | | cheaper products are now available, only 5 percent of |
| constituent of the blood of animals. Glucose is a white | | | | the production of industrial glycerol goes into the |
| crystalline solid, less sweet than ordinary table sugar. | | | | making of nitroglycerol explosives. Because of its |
| Solutions of glucose rotate the plane of polarization of | | | | affinity for water and its high viscosity, glycerol is a |
| polarized light to the right; hence the alternative name | | | | valuable constituent in stamp pad inks. Pumps for |
| dextrose (Latin dexter, “right”). Glucose | | | | petroleum products are lubricated by glycerin because |
| crystallizes in three different forms. The degree of | | | | it resists dissolving in petroleum liquids. Because of its |
| rotation of polarized light is different for each form. | | | | high viscosity and its nonpoisonous character, glycerin |
| Glucose is formed by the hydrolysis of many | | | | is a suitable lubricant for food-processing machinery. |